Nassau Legislature Expected to OK No-Tax-Increase Budget

Nassau legislature expected to OK no-tax-increase budget

By William Murphy

The Nassau County Legislature was expected to vote Monday to approve the $2.6-billion county budget for 2010 proposed by County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

The budget does not call for increases in taxes or fees, and the legislature has not proposed any significant changes to the spending plan since Suozzi announced it on Sept. 15.

"This is a no-tax-increase budget, so I'm happy about the fact it's a no-tax-increase budget," Legis. Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), the presiding officer, said Friday.

The legislature will also take up a measure authorizing the sale of 101 acres of old Grumman property in Bethpage, owned by the county, to a local developer, Steel Equities, for $28.5 million. That measure was added to the calendar late Friday at the request of the Suozzi administration.

While there's no specific plan for the property, Steel Equities would be the developer for what Suozzi hopes to be a biotechnology park.

The company wants to close on the deal by Nov. 6, and the Suozzi administration wants the sale approved by both committees and the full legislature on Monday because the next scheduled meeting of the legislature is not until Nov. 16.

Suozzi's Democratic allies on the 19-member legislature hold a one-vote majority, and Suozzi's Republican opponent on Nov. 3 for county executive, Legis. Edward Mangano of Bethpage, said he has been asked by the administration to drum up Republican support that will be needed to get the supermajority vote necessary to pass it at the same session it is proposed.

Mangano said Friday he would study the lease over the weekend before deciding.

Also Friday, the legislature added another item to committee agendas at the request of the Suozzi administration that would allow it to enter into a long-term lease for property in Baldwin for a new home for the Police Department's First Precinct.

That project has been pushed by Suozzi and Democratic Legis. Joseph Scannell of Baldwin, who faces a tough re-election battle from Republican challenger Christian Browne.