By Scott Brinton
Democrats in the County Legislature tried and failed last week to override a series of line-item vetoes by Nassau Executive Thomas Gulotta to the 2001 budget that they had developed and passed last month.
In all, Mr. Gulotta (R-North Merrick) vetoed 15 items in the Democratic version of next year's county budget, as well as the Democrats' four-year financial plan for Nassau that was required by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA).
Overriding a veto by the County Executive would have required approval by two-thirds of the Legislature. Democrats, who control the majority 10-9, could not muster even one GOP vote, however. They would have needed at least three, for a total of 13 votes in all, for a two-thirds majority.
"It is extremely disappointing to see that our Republican counterparts are willing to again accept Mr. Gulotta's budget gimmickry and failed financial practices, as they have in the past, rather than step up when they need to and do the right thing for Nassau County and its residents," the Legislature's Democratic caucus said in a prepared statement.
The County Executive removed a $10-million emergency fund from the Democratic budget, as well as $12 million in appropriations to pay down the county's $2-billion debt. Also, Mr. Gulotta reduced the Democratic majority's $11-million subsidy to Long Island Bus by $4 million, a measure Democrats say will eliminate bus service for the county's "elderly and most needy residents."
The Democratic budget eliminated $100 million in county spending. That, however, was apparently not enough for the County Executive. Mr. Gulotta took those cuts further, refusing to rehire 15 percent of the workers in the Parks and Public Works Departments. Such a dramatic reduction in these departments would "leave county residents vulnerable during snow storms, paralyze public-works projects and escalate concern that some of the county's parks might have to be closed," said the Democrats.
In a recent interview with the Herald, Mr. Gulotta said the 15.4-percent tax hike needed to finance the Democrats' spending plan was too high. The increase, $155 for residents now paying $1,050 in county taxes annually, would drive older adults and young, married couples out of the county, he said.
In the end, Mr. Gulotta said, he would not allow a 15.4-percent increase to stand. Rather, he would cut services.
Republican legislators said that their Democratic counterparts had kept programs in the 2001 budget that should have been reduced, eliminated or picked up by New York State. They included Long Island Bus among those programs for state takeover. Republicans also said that Democratic legislators budgeted too high for emergencies, putting millions of dollars where they do not belong, in the hands of County Executive Gulotta.
Whether Republicans and Democrats can work out a budget compromise remains uncertain. If they cannot in the next week, however, a state takeover of the county's finances is "a real possibility," said Michael Larkin, deputy press secretary to the Democratic caucus.
Frank Zarb, Nassau Interim Finance Authority chairman, last week sent a warning to County Executive Gulotta, Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), presiding officer of the Legislature, and Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), the Legislature's minority leader.
In a letter obtained by the Herald, Mr. Zarb wrote that NIFA would give county officials until Thursday, Nov. 30, or the state would intervene and "take whatever actions are deemed necessary as consistent with our statute as it relates to the failure of Nassau County to provide the Authority with an approved financial plan."
