Mineola, NY - Nassau County Legislators are readying Monday, February 25, to vote on an agreement between Nassau Community College and its Adjunct Faculty Association that spans a 10-year period and settles a contract dispute that began in 1995. The contract, which runs from October 1995 through September 2005, calls for a salary freeze for the first five years and addresses a number of non-fiscal issues including seniority, retention pool, release time and grievances.

Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) said she believes it is important to the College and AFA that the agreement be approved. "The AFA has been without a contract for several years. This agreement was negotiated by the College and AFA in good faith and I am urging bi-partisan support in approving this long overdue contract."

County Executive Thomas Suozzi has stated recently that beginning in 2003, he plans to modify the County's property tax commitment to the College from 5% to align with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which at this time is 2.5%. During a February 11 meeting of the legislature, Sean Fanelli, President of Nassau Community College, testified that the college would find it difficult to meet its contractual obligations with the AFA if the County cut its commitment in half.

In a letter today to County Executive Suozzi and NCC President Fanelli, Presiding Officer Jacobs urged both sides to revisit the County's 5% annual tax levy increase agreed to in the 2002 budget and replace it with a more realistic number, which reflects the County's delicate financial situation.

However, she cautioned about using the CPI, which is a moving number that would make it difficult for the College to anticipate its revenues. The CPI can fluctuate dramatically from year to year.

In numbers prepared by the Majority Budget Office and released today, it is anticipated that a 2.5% CPI would reduce the College's tax revenue by $1 million in Fiscal year 2003, $2.1 million in 2004, $3.2 million in 2005, and $4.5 million in 2006.

"I believe that using the CPI as the guide may not be the best approach. First of all, it makes long-term fiscal planning difficult for the College since it can vary dramatically. In addition, a CPI of 2.5% would ensure a reduction in the College's tax revenue. Gaps could be even higher when factoring in losses in State aid," said Presiding Officer Jacobs.

Presiding Officer Jacobs emphasized that there are various scenarios and potential resources that are available to the College to offset reductions in the property tax levy and State aid, including: additional enrollment which the College predicts may increase at least two-percent in 2002; continuing education revenue, which the College predicts will exceed revenue projections by approximately $600,000; rents and recoveries, which the College anticipates will provide $400,000 disencumbered funds related to over-budgeted contracts; and chargeback revenue for out of County students, among other ideas.

While she urged the County Executive and Mr. Fanelli to return to the meeting table to discuss an agreement that both the County and the College can live with, Presiding Officer Jacobs said the Democratic majority plans to focus on the merits of the AFA contract and vote accordingly.

"Proposals related to modifying the County's property tax commitment to the College are a distinct budget matter that will be discussed in the coming weeks as we develop the Four-Year Financial Plan and the Fiscal 2003 Budget. The AFA contract is a separate issue and should be approved without further delay."