Mineola, NY - Following a series of committee hearings on the budget proposed by County Executive Thomas Gulotta, the Democrat majority of the Nassau County Legislature is weighing options to deal with a projected shortfall of $55 million in 2002.

The hearings before the Government Services, Health and Social Services and Public Safety committees, held October 1, 4, and 5, and the public hearing held October 16, resulted in testimony from department heads, commissioners and county agencies, all of whom said the funding allocated for 2002 was inadequate.

However, Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), speaking on behalf of the Democrat majority, made it clear at the start of the hearing that legislators would be hard-pressed to increase funding for non-mandated programs this year. "Times are tough," said Legislator Jacobs. "While in a perfect year we would have the luxury to restore funding for many worthy programs, the severity of the current crisis makes such an option unlikely. The fact of the matter is that the mismanagement of the County's budget over the last 10 years leaves us with virtually no alternative but to take the emergency steps necessary to restore stability," she continued. "I think the operative word is austere. We need to adopt an austere budget for 2002, right the ship, and set the stage for the next County Executive to bring newfound energy and initiative to the process of rebuilding the County."

A review of the proposed fiscal plan by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) and the county's independent Office of Legislative Budget Review, revealed numerous technical flaws within the budget as well as over-projected revenues and under-projected expenses.

Members of the legislature must now rework Gulotta's proposed 2002 budget, which NIFA and the Office of Legislative Budget Review said is approximately $55 million out of balance, before meeting with NIFA on October 23. At that time, the majority must present at least a rough draft of proposals intended to balance the 2002 fiscal plan. A final budget for 2002, must be adopted no later than October 30.

November election and a new County Executive is in place. The next County Executive would be responsible for a 2003 budget and could not realistically be held to a four-year plan approved by a prior administration.

"While the end result of this year's budget process - a bare-bones budget -- may be difficult for some of us to digest, it is absolutely necessary. But we should all recognize that what may be painful in the short-term, will be beneficial in the long-term," Presiding Officer Jacobs concluded.