Mangano: No Property Tax Increase in 2011 budget

The good news is there will be no property tax increase for Nassau County residents in County Executive Ed Mangano's budget proposal for 2011. The bad news is that Nassau may have to continue borrowing to close a massive budget gap.

On Wednesday, Mangano called for no increase in taxes, but for the elimination of 400 county positions and consolidation of administrative departments and staff. He introduced the "Taxpayer Relief Act of 2010," a measure that requests cuts from every county department.

"Tough times require tough decisions and swift action," Mangano said in a statement. "My budget accomplishes both while protecting taxpayers."

Mangano met earlier in the week with union representatives from the county police and civil service organizations about further cost-cutting measures.  The police currently have a contract that runs through 2011, and includes concessions already agreed to under the Suozzi administration.

"Nassau County has dedicated employees that are working even harder to deliver services," Mangano said. "I ask them to share in the sacrifices needed to fix Nassau's finances and to understand that taxpayers simply cannot afford to pay contracts that were entered into without considering residents' ability to pay."

Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said he still had not yet received a copy of Mangano's proposed budget. Wink expressed skepticism that any proposal would be able to close the estimated $343-million budget shortfall without the county borrowing money. "It's going to be tough to do without borrowing," he said.  

The Legislature must adopt a budget by Oct. 31.

It was Wink's opinion that the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) — created by the state in 2000 to oversee county finances — may have to become involved and that the agency would need more "teeth" in order to successfully manage the deficit.

A total expenditure amount for the budget was not immediately released by Mangano's office.