Everyone loves something for nothing and the Majority Democrats are no exception.

Their second in a series of "Bright Idea" initiatives announced recently, involves securing a FREE consultant for the county who will analyze Nassau's archaic financial accounting system and recommend what is needed to bring the system up to par. The consulting services, which are valued at $100,000, will be provided by Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

"I am very pleased to announce that through the innovative thinking of our financial director, we have been able to secure this partnership with Columbia University's brightest minds to study the County's accounting system," said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). "To continue moving the County forward we need a reliable and up to date fiscal and program information on the County's operations."

According to Jacobs, the current accounting system, the Nassau Integrated Financial System, or NIFS, is not up to the task. Installed in 1999, this DOS system is cumbersome and "user hostile". However, NIFS was never fully implemented and currently managers are unable to manipulate NIFS information, develop historical trends, or do simple projections. The accounting system does not produce even simple information or trends in a format or timeframe that is helpful to the fiscal and policy analysts.

"The Legislature depends on sound fiscal information to properly develop and adopt a County budget," said Jacobs, "and budgeting is no better than the supporting information system that provides the essential data for planning, formulating, implementing, controlling, and evaluating budgets."

Students from Columbia University will explore the strengths and weaknesses of Nassau County's current system through interviews with key County stakeholders, including the County Comptroller, the Budget Director and the Treasurer, as well as agency users. The Columbia team will put together information on the most critical needs of the system's users. Concurrently the team will also be analyzing effective accounting systems used in other local governments around the country to assist Nassau County is establishing the benchmarks necessary for selecting a new system.

"We certainly are confident that the Legislative Majority, through its efforts, can continue Nassau County on the right road," said Jacobs. "With the help of Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs we will be able to identify problem areas and make recommendations for how to improve out current system and restore some of the luster to Nassau County government."

The study is slated to begin sometime this month.