REPUBLICAN MAJORITY PROPOSES BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS
The Republican Majority in the Nassau Legislature today submitted amendments to the County Executive’s 2019 Budget. The budget amendments find opportunities for savings, eliminate fees, begin the re-opening of two police precincts, and provide a contingency for potential cost increases due to the pending renegotiation of labor agreements.
“We have found ways to improve upon the County Executive’s budget while not burdening Nassau taxpayers,” said Presiding Officer Nicolello. “Notably, the county administration will be negotiating new contracts with all five of Nassau’s major unions this year. To prepare for this, we have created a contingency fund to help cover the labor costs that historically accompany new union contracts, and we are doing this without increasing fees on Nassau’s cash-strapped residents,” said Presiding Officer Nicolello.
The proposed $22 million labor agreement contingency will be funded by underestimated sales tax revenue, fringe benefit savings, debt service savings, reducing reliance on borrowing to pay tax certiorari claims, and the elimination of a small portion of vacant-yet-salaried positions within the county.
The majority delegation’s amendments also provide the funding requested by the Nassau County Police Commissioner to cover the initial phase-in costs to re-open the 6th and 8th police precincts, which were previously merged into other precincts and currently operate as “policing centers”. Additionally, $8 million in boot and tow fees are being eliminated from the administration’s budget and such revenue can be recovered through the savings incurred from the majority’s proposed amendments.
“We believe that all of our amendments are realistic and achievable, and we look forward to the passage of the amended budget by the end of October,” said Presiding Officer Nicolello. The final Budget Hearing is scheduled for October 29, 2018.