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March 26, 2000 GOP LEGISLATORS PROPOSE DEEP SPENDING CUTS
SPENDING CUTS TOTAL $89.2 MILLION IN 2000 AND $209.2 MILLION IN 2001 "Tough Medicine for Tough Times" Republicans Declare The Republican members of the Nassau County Legislature are advancing a fiscal recovery plan that focuses on cutting government spending, consolidating and eliminating Departments, debt restructuring and a minimal reliance on recurring revenues as part of an overall fiscal recovery plan to bring stability to Nassau County's budget. "Our plan, if implemented, would save taxpayers $89.2 million in FY2000 and $209.2 million in FY20001," said Minority Leader Peter Schmitt. "This plan is tough medicine, but it's what the people of this County want --- a smaller and leaner County government that is responsive to the needs of the residents." Elements of the plan include: SPENDING CUTS - 5% Cut in Discretionary Spending - 2.5% Cut in non-Programmatic Spending - Eliminate Department of Accounts - Medicaid Managed Care - Interest Savings from Debt Service FY2000: $61.6 Million Savings FY2001: $60.4 Million Savings DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATIONS - General Services into Parks and Recreation - Eliminate management positions and gain savings through attrition and economies of management. - Other Consolidations - Fleet Maintenance into Police FY2000: $0 Savings FY2001: $475,000 Savings DEBT RESTRUCTURING - Adopt Comptroller Parola's plan for debt restructuring as part of overall plan to cut spending. FY2000: $17.66 Million Savings FY2001: $114.37 Million Savings ZERO WAGE FREEZE - Stop the clock on wage increases for 2001 to 2004 FY2000: $0 FY2001: $27.2 Million Savings PRIVATIZATIONS Examine privatization opportunities in sewage treatment facilities, data processing and fleet maintenance. RECURRING REVENUES - Recent increase in fees in Parks and other departments - Hotel/Motel surcharge - Event Ticket surcharge - Extend sales tax to boat slip and mooring rentals FY2000: $5.8 Million in revenue FY2001: $15.23 Million in revenue In total, this fiscal recovery plan presents $89.2 million in cuts in 2000 and $209.2 million in cuts in 2001. The plan restores structural balance, cuts the bureaucracy and will restore fiscal stability to the County. "This plan makes the tough decisions to reduce spending while utilizing a minimum amount of recurring revenues through user fees. This plan will set the County on the road to fiscal recovery and ultimately return our bond rating," said Legislator Schmitt. "I urge my colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle to join with us in approving it. This plan solves the problem." |