Thursday, October 1, 2026
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and Republican nominee for governor, held a news conference on April 10 to laud the county's budget surplus and financial stability. Blakeman also called for an end to strict oversight and control from NIFA — Nassau Interim Finance Authority — which was created in 2000 to monitor the Nassau County budget.
"We are calling on NIFA to, basically, transfer from being a control authority to an advisory authority," Blakeman said. "NIFA costs county taxpayers approximately $3 million a year in administrative expenses. That money is unnecessary. It is not doing anything to help our fiscal status."
The $3 million cost Blakeman cited is a general estimate of the organization's total operating budget — which has ranged in recent years from just over $3 million in 2025 to $2.3 million this year, with an adopted budget of $2.9 million for 2027. The regulatory committee has been in control of Nassau County budget proposals and spending plans since 2011.
"We will do everything necessary to make sure that we are no longer burdened in a control period that is completely unnecessary, unwarranted and, quite frankly, not according to the law," Blakeman explained.
After pointing out recent county prosperity — including seven bond upgrades in the past three and a half years and a GDP larger than nearly 150 members of the United Nations — Blakeman raised the potential for a political slant to the financial control.
"NIFA has been a political machine, governed by Kathy Hochul," Blakeman said. "She wants to control every aspect of our business here in Nassau County, just like she has throughout the state of New York."
Blakeman pointed out that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, has declared the county to have no fiscal stress. Nassau County Comptroller and former State Senator Elaine Phillips, a Republican, emphasized the county's financial health despite rising costs state-wide. "In 2024 to 2025, we saw almost a $5 million increase in health insurance costs. A 23 percent increase in our pension costs."
Phillips commended Blakeman's decision to not raises county taxes over his four-year tenure, adding that NIFA's shift to an advisory role would be appropriate. "I wholly support that NIFA does not keep us in a control period," Phillips said.
County Treasurer David Chiang further added support for reduced NIFA oversight while stressing the current financial position. "Nassau County is in the best fiscal shape it's ever been in. Without cutting services, we have maintained our service level while keeping revenues stable. Our expenses have been going down. We have budget surpluses."
"Bruce Blakeman has no authority to decide whether there's a control period in effect," said Richard Kessel, chairman and director of NIFA. "It's our position that a control period is absolutely necessary and we will continue it going forward. It's up to us to decide whether or not to have a control period. If he doesn't comply with it, we'll take the appropriate action at the appropriate time."
