When you’re presented with a problem, you have a choice: either confront it in the moment or delay your response. Far too often, putting it off allows the problem to become bigger and harder to manage — something that’s as true in municipal budgeting as it is in everyday life.
As the ranking member of the Nassau County Legislature’s Budget Review Committee, I’ve had a front-row seat as we’ve watched County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s administration repeatedly try to paint a rosy picture rather than deal with reality.
Starting in 2022, instead of providing promised tax cuts to property owners, the county began depleting surpluses that Blakeman inherited from his predecessor, Laura Curran. Last year the county shifted $272.4 million in reserves — much it from its $385 million allotment of the federal American Rescue Plan Act — into Nassau’s general fund.
Perhaps most appallingly, earlier this year, the administration tried to move $13.7 million of interest, from the tens of millions of dollars sitting dormant in the county’s opioid litigation settlement fund, into the general fund.
The Democratic minority caucus and I successfully thwarted this plan — and a subsequent attempt to put settlement interest directly into the general fund — because the sole purpose of these funds must be to provide lifesaving prevention, treatment and recovery services to those battling the scourge of addiction.
These are just a few examples of how the county has sought to delay a collision with fiscal reality, and hearings on the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget are proving that the budgetary mirage has just about evaporated.
A report from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Budget Review shows that the county will have to drain another $44 million from its reserves to balance next year’s budget, and that the administration has allocated $373 million more for other potential shortfalls.
As we await an appraisal of the county’s performance for the current year, there are warning signs in reports and statements by the Nassau Interim Finance Agency and Comptroller Elaine Phillips. A recent NIFA report showed that Nassau ended fiscal year 2025 with a $56 million deficit. In testimony to the Legislature on Oct. 7, Phillips confirmed that, by her calculations, the county did not report any surplus for 2025, and she did not foresee one for 2027.
In fact, the comptroller’s annual financial report lists a $144.7 million deficit, further evidence that the county is spending its “rainy day” fund even before the umbrellas have been opened. NIFA and the comptroller’s office seldom reach similar conclusions about Nassau’s fiscal standing. When they do, we must take notice.
Nevertheless, the county has continued its exorbitant spending on outside counsel — $23 million in 2025. In many cases, the work was farmed out to campaign donors, allies and ex-political candidates, all while staffing levels at the county attorney’s office continue to dwindle.
The administration has shown no inclination to recalibrate, and in fact, its testimony during budget hearings demonstrated a willingness to draw down the county’s litigation fund, which should serve only as a firewall against substantial settlement payouts, to continue the practice.
Meanwhile, other cost-saving measures have caused their own problems. Administration officials confirmed that 594 county employees availed themselves of the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, a voluntary buyout of $2,000 per year of service for union members with more than 10 consecutive years of county employment.
I supported VSIP because these men and women have earned it through their dedicated service, and it can be a helpful tool for managing the county payroll as long as staffing shortfalls are addressed responsibly. Despite assurances, departments like Child Protective Services, emergency communications, the Nassau County Police Department’s detective bureau and corrections still have an unmanageable number of vacancies.
While numerous department heads touted the imminent arrival of new hires during the budget presentations, we will remain woefully — and in some cases dangerously — understaffed until they come on board.
The first step in addressing these challenges is for the administration to stop the spin and sit down with stakeholders to take corrective action. Our final budget hearing before the Legislature’s vote is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 30, and whether you participate in person or offer written testimony, I encourage you to add your voice to this conversation about Nassau County’s future.
Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.
