October 5, 2004

Suozzi Announces Increased Revenue Sharing with Local Villages
County to Give $750,000 from Sales Tax Revenues to 64 Local Incorporated Villages in 2005 Amount Triples Since 2003

Mineola, N.Y. - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today announced that Nassau County will give $750,000 from a portion of the County's sales tax revenue to the County's 64 local incorporated villages, effective January 2005. This reflects a substantial increase over 2004 and 2003, and is included in the County Executive's 2005 budget.

Front Row: Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, and Village of Malverne Mayor Anthony Panzarella. Back Row: Village of Stewart Manor Mayor Joseph Troiano, Village of Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato and Hon. Warren Tackenberg, Executive Director of the Nassau County Village Officials Association

"As promised, I presented my second consecutive no tax increase budget that is conservatively balanced and fiscally responsible," the County Executive said. "Given that we now have the County's fiscal house in order, I can fulfill my pledge of continued - and expanded - financial support and cooperation with our County's 64 villages."

"On behalf of the Village elected officials, we thank County Executive Suozzi for keeping a promise he made when he first took office," said Warren Tackenberg, Executive Director of the Nassau County Village Officials Association. "The increasing collaboration between the County and the Villages means more benefits to our residents and more efficiencies all around. We look forward to continued cooperation."

"With the financial situations that all of our villages are facing, this generous sum is very much needed and welcomed," said Anthony Panzarella, Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Malverne. "We also greatly appreciate the County Executive fulfilling his promise. He is a man of his word."

Until 2001, local villages received no portion of the County's sales tax revenue. In the 2003 budget, County Executive Suozzi gave $250,000 to the villages and a year later, in the 2004 budget, double the amount to $500,000. Now, for his 2005 proposed budget, the County Executive plans to triple the amount to $750,000. The sum is divided by the villages based on population.

Suozzi added that the mayors will receive more detailed information, including their specific allocations, in November following passage of the budget, which is required by October 31.