Mangano Delivers No Property Tax Increase Budget
Orders a Shared Sacrifice Solution
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today took bold steps to protect taxpayers in his No Property Tax Increase 2011 Proposed County Budget. Without the use of one-shot revenues, Mangano’s budget rescues Nassau County from a $343 million deficit caused by years of mismanagement, a poor economy and empty promises of paying for labor deals with reckless disregard for taxpayers ability to pay.
“I am addressing Nassau County’s fiscal mess head on,” said County Executive Ed Mangano. “This budget includes common sense solutions to fix our County’s finances and ensure we live within our means for years to come.”
Nassau County residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Mangano has cut spending, eliminated waste, consolidated services, and reined in unaffordable labor contracts negotiated by the prior administration.
“The budget I submit today does not increase property taxes by a single dollar,” said Mangano. “Tough times require tough decisions and swift action - my budget accomplishes both while protecting taxpayers.”
Facing a $343 million deficit for 2011, County Executive Mangano has reduced government spending and the public payroll. Keeping his promises to control taxes and right-size government, Mangano's 2011 Proposed County Budget:
- · contains no property tax increase;
- · cuts employees to the lowest level since the 1950s;
- · slashes the headcount by over 400 positions, including $1 million in the Office of the County Executive;
- · cuts wasteful spending by over $100 million;
- · consolidates departments and administrative functions;
- · right-sizes police administration;
- · saves $80 million a year in debt associated with the assessment system; and
- · exposes and fixes the Sewer District deficit.
County Executive Mangano introduced the ‘Taxpayer Relief Act of 2010’ which calls on all government employees to share in the sacrifice needed to prevent property tax hikes and fix the County’s finances. The County Executive has cut his staff, reduced administration, cut waste and now calls upon Nassau’s labor force to join him in rescuing Nassau County’s finances.
“Since taxpayers can no longer afford the price of government, I will ask the County Legislature to pass the ‘Taxpayer Relief Act of 2010’ to ensure shared sacrifices are made to prevent property tax hikes,” said Mangano. “I will not ask homeowners to pay even higher taxes to fund salary hikes at a time when unemployment has reached seven percent and residents are struggling to make ends meet.”
The costs associated with Nassau County’s public workforce continued to grow in 2010 because of skyrocketing pension contributions, soaring health insurance expenses for both active and retired public employees and other contractual obligations. From 2007-2015, the total costs derived from labor contracts exceed the Consumer Price Index by over $500 million.
“To return Nassau to fiscal stability, we must realistically live within our means and cannot spend what taxpayers do not have,” said Mangano. “Nassau County has dedicated employees that are working even harder to deliver services. Once again, 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. The county is very fortunate to have a dedicated workforce that has contributed without question to help the county achieve its operational and financial objectives. I seek to continue this partnership with its unionized workforce. ”
Addressing Nassau’s structural deficit, County Executive Mangano has included considerable reforms, including:
- · an end to the “County Guarantee” which would obligate the County only for its share of property tax refunds; and
- · corrective action to the Sewer District to ensure its fiscal stability and exploration of a public-private partnership for the Sewer District.
“We must protect Nassau County for generations to come,” said Mangano. “To do that, my budget takes significant steps at reforming our county while maintaining public safety and protecting the health and welfare of our residents.”
Documents
2011 Proposed Budget Supporting Schedule
