Suozzi Proposes 4th Consecutive

‘No-Tax-Increase’ Budget

-- Smart-Government Initiatives & Push for Greater Productivity Allows Administration to Keep Spending In Check and Hold the Line on Taxes

Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi’s proposed 2007 budget reflects his administration’s continuing commitment to cut wasteful spending and implement smart-government initiatives – while holding the line on property taxes for the fourth year in a row.

Suozzi balanced the budget by continuing to eliminate waste, consolidating departments and by pushing for greater productivity from the county workforce. Since 2002, the Suozzi administration has successfully implemented more than 75 smart-government initiatives, which have netted more than $100 million in budget relief. The 2007 budget continues that trend.

“High taxes are the No. 1 concern of Nassau residents,” Suozzi said. “While school property taxes continue to escalate across Nassau, the county government is doing everything possible to keep the county portion of our residents’ tax bill from growing while maintaining services. We are now the only county in New York State to deliver a ‘no-tax-increase’ budget four years in a row.”

Since 2002, the Suozzi administration’s fiscally conservative practices have won wide-spread acclaim. The administration has dramatically cut borrowing, achieved historic labor concessions, earned 11 bond upgrades, built comfortable budget surpluses each year and reduced the number of patronage employees.

Suozzi warned, however, that the county’s ability to hold down property taxes in the future will depend in large part upon a willingness to control spending by Albany lawmakers and the County Legislature.

“We have stopped growing as a County,” Suozzi said. “It’s unlikely we’ll be able to balance the budget in future years without tax increases unless we find ways to promote growth, make major changes in labor contracts and get cooperation from legislators to keep spending down.” 

The $2.438 billion county operating budget for 2007 includes a modest 3.3 % increase in spending, which is well below the 5 % increase in the Consumer Price Index. The budget also includes a $10 million contingency fund to cover any unforeseen expenses.

As part of the 2007 budget, Suozzi announced a series of restructurings of government operations aimed at creating efficiencies. In the coming year, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities will merge into a single entity – the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services. This merger will serve clients in a more coordinated and holistic manner, while eliminating duplication, reducing costs and increasing accountability. “A unified program will address mental health, developmental disabilities and addiction disabilities much more efficiently, and will eliminate gaps in services to those with both chemical addiction and mental illness,” Suozzi said.

The proposed 2007 budget also seeks to consolidate the Office of Grants Management into the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Additionally, the Suozzi administration is seeking to merge the Building Maintenance Unit and the Fleet Service Bureau – both of which are now part of the Nassau County Police Department – into the Department of Public Works.

“We are continuing to streamline county government, making it as lean and efficient as possible by eliminating duplication of services,” Suozzi said. “So while we are spending less, we are actually serving the county’s taxpayers better.”

The Nassau County Police Department, while keeping crime in check, is continuing to strive to work more efficiently. The county has been recognized as the safest municipality of its size in the nation at a time when the police department has been able to contain costs through labor concessions, operational improvements and application of new technologies.

In the coming year, the Suozzi administration will seek to continue to further improve efficiency within the police department by increasing the productivity of police officers. The new budget also anticipates additional civilianization of police department positions – to get more officers out of desk jobs and onto the street.

The county will also continue to be on the forefront of identifying new and creative ways to root out Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse.

Along with identifying savings, the Suozzi administration has worked hard to increase the county’s tax base – a challenge in a mature suburb with little room for growth. The March, 2006 establishment of a Nassau County Empire Zone, which the county fought for, will prove an important economic development tool to strengthen the tax base, increase business investment and create new jobs.

Nassau County continues to make major investments for the future, including in its infrastructure. For example, the county anticipates the opening of the new and renovated Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in the fall of 2007 and will break ground on the County's new Police and Fire Communications Facility by the end of this year. The main field at Mitchell Field Stadium will be resurfaced with synthetic turf to allow for expanded use.

“While holding the line on taxes, this budget also allows the county to improve essential services and enhance the quality of life that attracted many of us to Nassau County in the first place,” Suozzi said.