Nassau Ends 2011 in $50M Deficit, 2012 on Similar Pace

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos announced last week that the county will end the 2011 fiscal year with an unaudited budgetary deficit of $50.4 million. The audited results will be finalized by July 30. According to a release, the delay was necessary due to the need to confirm the county's Other Post-employment Benefits liability.

The county is currently projected to end the 2012 fiscal year with a $45 million defecit, according to Maragos, "unless immediate steps are taken to end in balance."

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said Friday that he has closed the county's $310 million budget deficit to $45 million as projected by Maragos. Mangano will be joined by Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt on Monday morning to announce his plan to close the remaining $45 million projected budget deficit.

"The deficit in 2011 was avoidable and is primarily the result of NIFA and the legislative minority failing to work with the administration to approve $43.1 million in bonding for property tax refunds," Maragos said in a release.

According to Long Island Business News, the increase in the 2011 deficit from the original estimate of $42.8 million to the final total of $50.4 million can be largely attributed to "mistakenly counting revenue of $7.1 million in debt service reimbursement from the Sewer and Storm Water District Fund twice."

Overall, the deficit resulted from receiving about $80.1 million less in revenue than budgeted, mostly due to New York state not approving red light camera expansion for the county, and higher expenses from not being able to bond $43.1 million for property tax refunds.

"Similarly, the projected $45 million deficit in 2012 is partially the result of the anticipated failure of NIFA and the legislative minority to again approve the 2012 budgeted bonding for tax refunds," Maragos said in a release. "This ongoing lack of cooperation will continue to negatively affect the county."

Maragos said the administration needs to target $90 million in actions to achieve a budgetary surplus in 2012 and restore the unreserved fund balance back to 2010 levels, something the comptroller said would be "a major accomplishment."

According to Maragos, these "actions" should aim to:

1. Refocus government on core function
2. In-source where possible, services performed by contractors
3. Cancel all non-essential contractual services and maintenance contracts
4. Halt all non-essential general expense purchases.

West Nile Virus Found at Four Trap Locations in Nassau

Nassau County Department of Health Monday announced the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV) from mosquitoes at four trap locations in Nassau County. The virus was identified in mosquitoes collected in Bayville, Lakeview, Massapequa and Mineola.

To date, no humans have tested positive for West Nile virus in Nassau County in 2012.

Mosquito surveillance will continue at 42 trap sites located throughout the county and will be intensified in those communities where WNV positive mosquitoes have been identified. Additional West Nile virus information can be found on the Nassau County Department of Health website.

County Parks to Participate in Island Harvest’s Make a Splash Food Drive Challenge

Mangano announced that Nassau County will once again participate in Island Harvest's second annual Make a Splash Food Drive Challenge.

Click here to read more about the food drive.