Republicans Rip Democratic Minority, Mangano Pushes Sewer Privatization

Republicans Rip Democrats Over Voting

The following is a joint statement from County Executive Ed Mangano, Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt and the Republican Legislative Caucus:

"During the decade in which the Democrats controlled the County Legislature, Republicans put politics aside and provided the responsible votes necessary to run county government. Unfortunately for Nassau's taxpayers, the Democrat minority on the legislature is now refusing to implement a plan that forever ends borrowing for tax refunds while cleaning up debt created over the past decade. 

If the Democrats do not provide the votes needed to pay residents their rightfully owed property tax refunds, judgments will be executed against the County’s bank accounts — preventing the county from meeting payroll or funding government services. 

On Monday, May 21, Democrat legislators will make the final choice to either implement bonding reform or slash millions in vital county services. There is no other choice as we will not raise property taxes! Countless Nassau residents will be impacted if the Democrats continue to play politics and refuse to authorize the bonding.

We — the county executive and Republican legislative majority — have begun total reform of the broken and bleeding property tax assessment system, which includes a financial stability plan, developed in consultation with NIFA, to finally end all bonding for tax refunds by 2015. This reform plan ends the practice of borrowing against our children's future and will put the County on a pay-as-you-go plan by 2015.

Democrats' refusal to permit the last of the bonding will result in massive cuts as funds will be needed to cover remaining judgments. Massive cuts may include:

• Furlough of all nonessential employees;
• Closure of all nonessential county offices on Mondays;
• Elimination of the youth board;
• Elimination of the Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services; and
• Elimination of the Red Light Camera Dedicated Fund.

The Democrats are willing to shut the county down solely for their own political benefit – and we will not and must not allow that to occur.”

Mangano Pitches Sewage Privatization Plan in Wantagh

Mangano made the case for his proposed sewage system public-private partnership Wednesday night during an informational meeting at the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Wantagh.

Last week, the county executive nnounced a Debt Reduction and Sewer Stabilization Plan to eliminate $750 million — 25 percent — of the county's $3 billion debt. The plan also aims to stabilize Nassau County's Sewer Authority, which is set to face bankruptcy in 2014, as warned by the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) in its October 2009 report.

Mangano told residents Wednesday night that without the public-private partnership, the county would need to invest $300 to $400 million into the plants for the next three years. If approved as operator, United Water would invest at least $400 million in capital improvements during the next decade.

LI Marathon Winners Congratulated

Mangano was on hand at Eisenhower Park to congratulate the winners of the 2012 Long Island Half Marathon, Women's Half Marathon and 10K race winners (all pictured) held on May 6.

Largest Single-Day Food Drive

Long Island's largest one-day food drive will take place this Saturday, May 12, as Island Harvest, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the U.S. Postal Service team up to help Stamp Out Hunger. 

Participation is easy and Long Islanders can do their part by leaving a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12. Long Island's letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to Island Harvest to distribute among nearly 570 food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency feeding programs throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.