Suozzi Announces Winners in Competition to Reduce
Overlapping Functions Among Hundreds of Government Entities

        -- 2 Firms Selected to Develop Blueprint to Shrink the 'Insidious Maze'
of Taxing Government Entities to Ease Property Tax Burden

Mineola, N.Y. – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today announced that two firms have been selected to receive a total of $550,000 in contracts to develop a detailed blueprint to consolidate the functions of local government entities to reduce the property tax burden on county residents.  Suozzi made his announcement during his testimony at the Long Island meeting of the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency & Competitiveness.

The two firms awarded contracts are Public Financial Management (PFM), in partnership with The Center for Governmental Research (CGR) and Hofstra University’s Center for Suburban Studies; and Malcolm Pirnie, an environmental engineering and consulting firm. PFM’s partnership will develop proposals in four service areas: school business functions, libraries, parks and road maintenance.  Malcolm Pirnie will develop the proposal for consolidation in the service areas of sanitation/solid waste disposal and water supply. Malcolm Pirnie is currently performing the consolidation analysis of the 17 local sewer and sewage treatment districts for Nassau County, which Suozzi launched just prior to this broader government consolidation effort.

 “At the end of this process, we should be able to say, ‘If we consolidate these entities, it will save you X dollars and your services will either remain as good as they are now or improve,’” Suozzi said.  “I am confident that these two teams of consultants with the depth of talent and prior experience, as well as their strong knowledge of Nassau County and many of the local government entities within our county, will be invaluable partners in our current effort to tackle the property tax challenge facing our taxpayers.”

"PFM, CGR and Hofstra are excited to be selected for this important project," said John Cape, PFM's manager for this project and former New York State Budget Director. "This is an opportunity to build on ideas we have seen work around New York and across the nation.  Nassau County is working toward a new, 21st Century model for sound suburban governance."

“From our work with the Nassau County Department of Public Works for the implementation of many environmental facility projects to assisting with the formation of the Sewer and Storm Water Finance Authority, this project is the culmination of our 20-plus year relationship with Nassau County,” said Catherine Mallon, Vice President Malcolm Pirnie.

In June, Nassau County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide a cost-benefit analysis, feasibility study and implementation plan for the consolidation of government services currently provided by multiple government and non-governmental entities, including special districts and private companies. The RFP was designed to examine six distinct service areas in Nassau County, including:

• Libraries
• School Business Functions
• Parks
• Road Maintenance
• Sanitation/Solid Waste Disposal
• Water Supply

Earlier this year, the Nassau County Legislature approved an allocation of $500,000 from the 2006 surplus to develop the blueprint for government consolidation. The Legislature will vote on these contracts at its next session on July 30, 2007. The County has also received a $250,000 grant from the Hagedorn Foundation to support this effort, part of which will be used for the blueprints and the rest to be used for further research and public education surrounding the many issues related to consolidation.

During his testimony today before the State Commission, Suozzi also asked the State for $750,000 in funds to match the public/private partnership Suozzi has developed to launch this aggressive and coordinated effort on behalf of the property taxpayers of Nassau County, who pay the second highest property taxes in the nation. 

“I know the blueprints that will result from this process will provide a work plan to create greater efficiency and ultimately reduce spending, all while maintain the quality of service that attracts people to our communities,” Suozzi said. “But the tremendous effort to gather and analyze data, then educate the public and influence positive change will take time and money and we will need the State’s help.  We in Nassau County are committed to making change for the better, and we are confident that Governor Spitzer and the Commission are committed, as well.”