(L-R Leg. Debra Mule, Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, County Executive Laura Curran, Leg. Siela Bynoe, Leg. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Leg. Arnold Drucker)
MINEOLA, NY (October 28, 2020) - Nassau County Executive Laura Curran was joined by Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams and members of the Legislature’s Minority Caucus to announce a fiscal year 2021 budget agreement that prioritizes public bus service, police medics and important environmental and public health initiatives in the fiscal year 2021 budget.
As part of this agreement, County Executive Curran declared her intent to veto the Republican Majority Caucus amendments to the 2021 budget, and the eight members of the Minority Caucus will vote unanimously to block any attempt to override the veto. County Executive Curran and the Minority Caucus agree that the amendments are not only fiscally irresponsible, but illegal and a threat to critical funding for first responders amidst an unpredictable pandemic.
“My number one priority as County Executive is keeping our residents safe. That’s why I will veto any attempts to artificially inflate revenue projections that our County employees, including our first responders, rely on to protect critical services, health and safety. The Majority clearly doesn’t have a plan to get Nassau County through the COVID-19 pandemic. My budget protects Nassau’s future without raising property taxes,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
“At a time when we can afford it least, the Majority’s illegal and irresponsible budget amendments would jeopardize crucial funding for essential services during a pandemic. Furthermore, the Majority’s actions would expose Nassau County residents to the unacceptable risk of massive tax hikes during a recession,” Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D - Freeport) said. “Through this agreement, County Executive Curran and the Minority Caucus will safeguard our County’s fiscal standing during these uncertain times while enhancing essential community resources that County residents deserve and rely upon.”
Republican Majority Legislators illegally inflated sales tax revenue projections, which serves as the foundation of the entire budget, in a dangerous and illegal attempt to play politics with funding that County employees, including first responders and frontline health workers rely on to get Nassau through the COVID-19 pandemic next year.
County Executive Curran’s budget already calls for five additional police medics to increase staffing in the Emergency Ambulance Bureau, as well an additional class of up to 200 recruits to support the police department and more than a dozen new positions to protect public health, including food safety and disease investigation and control in the Health Department.
As part of her agreement with the Minority Caucus, County Executive Curran has committed to enhancing funding to hire police medics above and beyond the five additional positions planned in the Executive Budget if the need exists next year. County Executive Curran has also committed to ensuring that the Smart Sprinkler Reimbursement Program will be funded administratively next year through the Department of Public Works. Finally, to address funding gaps resulting from reduced ridership levels during the pandemic, County Executive Curran is anticipating federal assistance for efforts to preserve robust, reliable public bus service and is committed to increasing funding next year in the event federal funding does not arrive.
“In order to make sure Nassau emerges through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impact next year, we need to reliably ensure proper funding will be in place,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “My budget keeps essential services fully funded and adds support where we need it the most.”
Nassau County Executive’s Budget Agreement:
- Vetoes illegal and inflated sales tax revenue projections
- Increases funding for 5 additional police medics in the Emergency Ambulance Bureau and will add additional resources if the need exists
- Administratively funds Smart Sprinkler Program through DPW
- Commits to NICE Bus restoration funding if federal aid does not arrive next year