The Levittown Property Owners Association met on Feb. 12, 2002 with Nassau County Comptroller Howard S. Weitzman as guest speaker. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Frank O'Brien in the absence of President Jim Morrow. Mr. Weitzman entitled his remarks "The Financial Challenges Facing Nassau County: A Conversation with County Comptroller Howard S. Weitzman." The gist of this "conversation" was both somber and encouraging. He began by distributing a detailed printed description of his duties with the names and positions of his staff and their phone numbers.

Although the fiscal condition of Nassau County is grave, the background and credentials Mr. Weitzman brings to the office which he began in January are reasons for optimism. He is a certified public accountant, having built a large accounting firm which later merged with one of the "big 5" of the industry, founded and ran a public pharmaceutical company and a private medical finance company, served three terms as mayor of Great Neck Estates (where he achieved a balanced budget and surplus yearly), was a village trustee, a member of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, was director of the Great Neck North Water Authority, and has been involved with several charitable and community organizations.

Mr. Weitzman used a series of charts projected on a screen for his audience to follow his remarks. These outlined the extensive problems anticipated and solutions proposed. The charts indicated that thought and planning have gone into identifying and solving the issues.

The role of the county comptroller is described in the County Charter. It is his duty to watch over the countys' finances as an "independent fiscal watchdog," to be chief paymaster for payroll and benefits, to prepare reports on and monitor financial operations (review contracts and conduct audits), and provide fiscal accountability, Mr. Weitzman stated. He works independently of the county executive and legislature, with his own budget and staff. He does not prepare or approve the county's budget but helps to prepare the county's financial report. With his staff, Weitzman stated, he is "committed to wring out waste, fraud and abuse."

To overcome Nassau County's "structural deficit" of expenses exceeding revenues, with the county's indebtedness of $2.5 billion, Weitzman will concentrate on five areas: 1) real estate tax refunds due to flawed assessments, 2) guaranteeing the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) financial solvency, 3) relations with the county labor force, 4) contract review, and 5) developing technology and e-government.

The real estate tax reform will involve reassessment of all residential and commercial property at "fair market value," to take place in 2003. This will eliminate huge yearly refunds which go mostly to commercial property (80 percent). Also tax revenues returned by the county to towns and school districts will be examined.

With the sale of NUMC, the county is potentially liable for its $250 million debt. The Medical Center operated in 2001 with a $42 million deficit, in 2002 it will have a $17 million deficit, and will break even in 2003. Ways will be sought to keep the facility open and financially solvent, and protect taxpayers from possible bond default.

Labor relations will have a "real office." Salaries and benefits consume nearly half the annual operating budget so these should be kept reasonable. Some things done now are "mindless," Weitzman noted, such as giving full medical coverage for health benefits for life after working only five years, and awarding $2,000 to employees who opt out of the health benefits program. Improving productivity through negotiations with unions and reorganizing the highest paid police force in the country is another step for fiscal responsibility. This includes using civil service clerical employees for police office jobs.

In the area of contracts, agencies and vendor contracts will be reviewed to eliminate waste and fraud. A procurement review board with written procedures and policies will be established, also reforms in personal service contracts will be instituted. Currently, "It can take 21 signatures on a contract, or the same signatures three to four times," Weitzman stated.

The final area to be improved is "bringing the office of the comptroller into the 21st century with technology and e-government." Weitzman noted that he was startled to find his office had no computer (!) but was operating on "1960 mainframe technology." He immediately gave all his supervisors and deputies computers, which he found still stored in boxes in the basement. He plans to put all the business of the comptroller's office on the Internet (supervisors' names, phone numbers and responsibilities, finances, contracts, etc.) because "that's the way business operates today." This will increase efficiency and productivity, and will enhance public access to officials, records and information.

Mr. Weitzman then took questions and comments from the audience. He said it was an "embarrassment to read about the financial conditions in Nassau because with the strength and skills of people in the county, there's no need for this financial state. Don't sell Nassau County short."

Some questions from the audience (by Ronald Kinberg, Levittown School Board president, and Gary Fisch, a former school board member) had to do with taxes returned to school districts by the county. Others wondered if there could be "consolidation of services" between towns and the county on such entities as parks, roads, etc. Weitzman said these are being looked at, with more cooperation from civil service (use of cars, overtime, use of civilians to eliminate police office positions, etc.).

Weitzman concluded by saying the current assessment system in the county is "broken" so that Levittown residents with less commercial property subsidize others, but after the change in assessments, taxes will be lowered and made "fairer." He added that "a new breed of people, professionals, not politicians, are going into government in Nassau County." He offered to speak with individuals asking further questions in the lobby, and gave out staff phone numbers to call for assistance.

The general feeling after Mr. Weitzman's remarks was that he was prepared and competent to handle the job he had recently been elected to do. He presented this agenda in succinct and specific terms and may have somewhat reduced the concerns of Levittown taxpayers with regard to the fiscal condition of Nassau County.

The next meeting of the LPOA will be on March 12, with Levittown Schools Superintendent Dr. Herman A. Sirois as guest speaker.