Mangano Government Consolidation Plan To Save Taxpayers $2 Million Annually

County Legislature Approves County Executive’s Plan to Protect Taxpayers

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today praised the County Legislature for passing his Government Consolidation Plan that merges six different departments into two, thus creating a Department of Human Services, as well as a redefined Department of Public Works (DPW). County Executive Mangano’s Government Consolidation Plan will save Nassau County homeowners and employers over $2 million annually.

“Since taking office, I have focused on reducing the size of government and reining in Nassau’s bad spending habits,” said County Executive Mangano. “Facing a $343 million deficit for 2011, the largest in Nassau’s history, I took immediate steps to cut over $171 million in wasteful spending, reduce the workforce to the lowest level since the 1950’s, consolidate functions and protect homeowners and employers by eliminating a 16.5 percent property tax increase planned by the prior administration. Today, we take another leap forward in protecting taxpayers by implementing my plan to further consolidate government departments.”

DPW/Planning Merger:

Under a local law adopted today by the County Legislature, the Department of Planning will be merged into the DPW, thus creating a Division of Planning under the new DPW. This consolidation will end the substantial overlap of work performed by both Planning and DPW. The land use planning work completed by Planning requires continuous coordination with DPW regarding the impact of proposals on the County’s infrastructure. Almost all aspects of the work of each agency will benefit from the insights and expertise of the other agency. Planning will continue to work on its traditional studies and projects, but will also supplement DPW staff thereby minimizing the need for outside consultants. The merger of the Department of Planning into DWP will make it possible to simplify and streamline the process for developers and businesses to obtain construction approvals and thereby foster economic development critical to restoring the County’s financial health.

“The merger of these two departments will help make Nassau County more business-friendly,” said Mangano. “The newly merged department will become a one-stop-shop for subdivision approvals; eliminating the need for residents and business owners to waste time traveling between the two agencies. This is great news for our business community.”

In preparation for the consolidation of Planning into DPW, there will be an immediate reduction in management positions including, Executive Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and Deputy Commissioner of Planning, for a savings of $480,000 annually. Once the merger is complete, there will be an additional $125,000 reduction, as well as an annual savings of $120,000 in utility and building maintenance costs once the current Planning Department is moved from 100 County Seat Drive to the Department of Public Works at 1194 Prospect Avenue, for an estimated savings of over $725,000 annually.

With the relocation of a reduced Planning staff to DPW, the County will continue to maintain ownership of an asset, in the form of the vacant building, estimated to be worth $2,000,000 which can then be sold and placed back on the tax rolls.

“The consolidation of the functions into a single agency will create an environment that will encourage and facilitate the sharing and exchange of expertise, skills, and information which will assist Nassau County in better serving our residents,” said County Executive Mangano.

Department of Human Services:

Under a local law adopted today by the County Legislature, the departments of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services, Senior Citizen Affairs, the Office of the Physically Challenged and the Youth Board will be merged into a single department establishing the Department of Human Services. Lisa Murphy, Acting Commissioner for the Department of Senor Citizen Affairs, will serve as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. County Executive Mangano will forward Ms. Murphy’s appointment to the County Legislature for confirmation in the coming days.

“My administration continues to right-size Nassau’s government by consolidating County departments. Today’s action is the next step in a continual process aimed at streamlining government and reducing its burden on taxpayers. In all, it will save taxpayers millions of dollars annually without sacrificing services,” said Mangano.

With regard to the newly formed Department of Human Services, each of the former departments have extensive knowledge serving those who need assistance, however, many of Nassau County’s residents often need assistance outside of the scope of knowledge and expertise that is available through the department they had initially contacted. With this consolidation, Nassau County residents will now be better served by functioning as one department where the employees are cross-trained in all of the programs available within the newly established Department of Human Services. This consolidation will also allow for the simplification and restructuring of the contract process for the County contract agencies, as a central administrative office will now handle all financial concerns for the four departments.

To date, County Executive Mangano has eliminated several management positions in preparation for the consolidation into the Department of Human Services including: the Commissioner of Mental Health, the Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health, the Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of Drug and Alcohol, the Commissioner of Senior Citizen Affairs, and the Deputy Commissioner of Senior Citizen Affairs for a total savings, including pension and health care costs, of over $800,000. Additional savings of over $250,000 will be realized shortly with the retirement of several employees whose positions will be eliminated, including, Senior Citizen Service Coordinator, Senior Citizen Social Workers and various other administrative staff. Finally, the transfer of the four departments into the Department of Human Services will now allow the County to lease a small percentage of that building, producing revenue of $50,000 per year.