Mineola, NY - Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and the majority members of the Budget Review Committee heard testimony this week from County department heads, budget analysts and other experts concerning the county's fiscal condition for the year thus far. This week's budget review hearing represents the second time this year that department heads have reported to the committee to give their update on revenues and expenditures.

Representatives from the Police Department, Correctional Center, Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Health and Human Services gave overviews of their departments. Also testifying at the hearing were representatives of the County Executive's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Legislative Budget Review.

"I am also concerned with the overtime numbers for the police department and staffing levels in some other critical departments," she added. "We will be scrutinizing these numbers to determine the best course of action."

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman also commented on his recent report that stated the County has a $1 billion negative net worth. This startling figure was due to the excess borrowing done by the prior administration to pay for a broken tax assessment system.

The budget hearing also touched projected "baseline projections" for the 2004 budget, which include items like health insurance, pension and Medicaid costs.

According to the OMB, the greatest source of savings versus budget thus far this year has been due to the County's successful workforce reduction plan and a recalculation of pension costs ($25 million savings) based upon the State Legislature's adoption of the State Comptroller's proposal to cap pension contributions in Fiscal 2003.

"While the OMB and Legislative Budget Review didn't always agree on some baseline projections for 2004, the legislature will continue to work closely with both departments to achieve a clearer picture in the coming months," said Jacobs.

However, threats are still looming for the County, which include unpredictable sales tax revenue.

According to Jacobs, the legislature looks forward to reviewing the County Executive's budget submission in September.

"However, this hearing re-enforced the notion that with revisions in sales tax and health insurance coming later in October, the legislature will have a great deal of information to review before adopting a budget in the end of October," she added.