Residents Voices Are Heard In Mangano's 2012 Budget Plan

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today issued the following statement regarding legislative approval of the 2012 Budget.

“Nassau's budget is the tough medicine the County needs to recover from decades of poor fiscal policies. Most importantly, the budget represents an opportunity to work cooperatively to achieve success for our residents. The budget sets forth a comprehensive plan that makes Nassau County fiscally stronger each year over the next four years. The plan, developed in consultation with NIFA, and enacted by the Republican Majority Conference of the County Legislature, addresses Nassau's issues without raising property taxes.

Despite the fact that the Democrat Minority Conference failed to support the budget, I invite them to join me in working together to successfully implement the enacted solutions.

The budget sets forth solutions, such as public-private partnerships, that will save taxpayers over $40 million annually. Nassau County will now attend to prisoners’minor injuries at the jail, saving residents millions of dollars by reducing costs related to hospital transportation and security. Even greater savings will be achieved by allowing a private operator to run our bus system. This action will restore route cuts planned by the MTA and save residents more than $26 million annually.

There is also an opportunity for union presidents to avoid the severity of extensivelayoffs and unpaid furloughs by working with me to be part of the solution. Rest assured, while special interests yell and waste members’ dues on t-shirts, childish slogans,silly sign trucks and distorted media campaigns, the voice I hear the loudest is that of our residents who cannot afford a tax increase during this stagnant economy.”