Mineola, NY - Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and members of the legislature passed a "home rule" message yesterday that will now allow the state to create a Nassau County Sewer and Storm Water Finance Authority (NCSSWFA), a package that will provide $18 million in yearly benefits to the County's General Fund and work towards closing Nassau's budget gap next year.

The bipartisan deal was a compromise from what County Executive Thomas Suozzi and the Democratic Majority had originally sought. In what has become "obstructionist politics" as usual for Republicans, Minority County legislators and State Senate lawmakers in Albany did not support the original $25M package.

"Another piece of Nassau County's financial puzzle has fit into place," said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs. "This compromise is for the betterment of County residents. It is my hope that we can now move on to tackling other challenges that stand before us."

The new package includes:

• $5.8M through refinancing of sewer debt. It will freeze sewer rates through 2007.
• $9.2M in Motor Vehicle surcharges
• $3M from an Off-Track Betting Teletheater. (approved by the state in Ma 2003.)

The legislature passed the requisite "home rule" message late last night to allow state lawmakers to vote upon the package during its scheduled special session on September 16.

The newly formed Nassau County Sewer and Storm Water Authority will consolidate the County's antiquated patchwork of sewer districts. It will capitalize on available refinance savings and produce new, recurring revenues to relieve County budget pressures.