Dear Resident,
In an effort to further address the on-going effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, during this week’s Legislative Committees meetings, I helped pass two pieces of legislation, which will provide necessary monetary aid to public, private and charter schools, as well as to the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board (VEEB).
The first piece of legislation authorizes the County Executive to award grant funding through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) program to public and non-public schools. This funding will go toward COVID-19 mitigation, screening, and testing programs to maintain in-person learning and to keep children in the classroom.
Applications for schools to apply for funds from this program will ultimately be available through the Boost Nassau portal on the Nassau County government website.
The second piece of legislation will authorize the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement with the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board (VEEB), giving them the ability to utilize the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund money. If you’re not familiar with VEEB, this board helps to train our volunteer firefighters and emergency first responders. These funds will be used to address negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the financial hardships created by increased operating costs, and impacts on the supply chain. The funds will also be used for COVID-19 prevention tactics.
Both bills are expected to pass through the full legislature at its next meeting on June 27th.
More great news for Nassau County residents: earlier this month Standard & Poor Global and Moody’s Investor Services upgraded Nassau County’s bond rating. This will help the county save money any time bonds are needed to address critical infrastructure. The Republican Majority will continue to work with the County Executive to improve the quality of life of Nassau County residents.
On June 1st, the suspension and cap on County and State gas taxes was enacted. The cap is projected to save drivers approximately $ .25 cents per gallon, which may not be earth shattering, should somewhat ease the pain at the pump. Unfortunately, some gas stations have ignored the cap and are continuing to raise their prices.
The County has set up two email addresses for residents to report gas price-gouging complaints:
pricegouging@nassaucountyny.gov
consumeraffairs@nassaucountyny.gov
New York State also has an online form at https://www.ag.ny.gov and residents can call the Attorney General’s regional Office at 1-800-771-7755.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .
Sincerely,
Laura M. Schaefer
Legislator, District 14