Mangano, Levy, Astorino Discuss Albany, Form Alliance On Issues Facing Downstate Counties

  

 

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano today met with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to discuss regional andstatewide issues that affect each county. All three County Executives requested help from Albany in providing relief from New York State mandates. Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester send over $3 billion more to Albany each year than they receive back.

“With the state of the economy, we are facing some very uncertain times. We know our residents are already overburdened by high taxes – all three of our counties pay some of the highest property taxes in the country,” said County Executive Mangano. “We want to create a coalition where we work together to help taxpayers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. We share the same kinds of problems, and we can best serve our residents by coming together as a team to find solutions.”

"Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester counties have many similarities. In fact, all three have some of the highest cost of living in the nation," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.   "From creating new jobs to reducing energy costs, we had many productive discussions that could benefit all residents."

"Today is about building a coalition of the over taxed to send a message to Albany that we need immediate relief from unfunded mandates and out of control pension costs," said Westchester County Executive Astorino. "Property taxes in our three counties are among the highest in the country. The burden that has placed on our seniors, young people, families, and businesses is untenable. Structural financial reform is needed right now, and we are calling on Albany to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."

The three County Executives discussed issues such as relief from New York State mandates, increasing pension costs, the need for tax incentive districts to create jobs, and establishing alternative energy initiatives to reduce energy costs for homeowners and businesses.

Suffolk County Executive State Levy called the 3-county coalition, a “powerful force”, representing almost 19% of the state’s population. “We’ve agreed to seek meetings with our state delegations in Albany and have members of the Assembly, Senate and the three County Executives sit down together as a united front,” Levy said.

“We need to flex our muscle and send a message to Albany,” said Rob Astorino.  “The three counties have similar residents, similar problems, education systems that are equally important to all of us – and we’re counties of the over-taxed.  We’ve been falling off the track,” he added. “We’re all going broke. This is an important first step.”

“We’re working together to reduce spending by jointly bidding. We’re speaking as one voice, and we’re collectively rightsizing government. None of us can afford one more unfunded mandate,” said Mangano. “We want to make it clear that we can’t afford programs that aren’t funded.”