As required by law, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi presented his four-year economic plan for Nassau to NIFA (Nassau Interim Financial Authority) on Monday, April 1. That evening he went on Channel 12 to present the plan to the Nassau County Legislature and to the public. Although parts of the plan had been leaked before Monday, Mr. Suozzi saved one important surprise. Senior citizens earning less than $60,000 a year would be exempt from the proposed property tax increase. The tax increase will be 19.4 percent of the county portion of the property tax. It will amount to less than four percent of a resident's total property tax. A chart giving examples of specific increases is published here on page 36.

Mr. Suozzi began his State of the County address by saying that, although he had campaigned on a platform of a need for change in the county, "nothing could have prepared me for its dysfunctional condition. The parks, for example, once the finest in the state, are in unbelievable disrepair." He compared the condition of the county with that of Enron, where "a favored few are rich and the rest are left holding the bag."

He went on to state that Nassau presently has an annual debt of $428 million, "a number confirmed by NIFA." His plan to eliminate the deficit has five major elements--a reduction in the workforce which will result in a $101 million annual saving; more efficient management which will save $73 million; concessions from labor unions for a savings of $65 million; restructuring of the county debt for a savings of $78 million; increased property tax which will amount to $182 million for the median household or an average of $226 per household. "This plan will fix the problem, once and for all. Let's do it now." At this point there was applause from his audience although the Republican legislators did not join in, giving an indication of how they will receive his plan. In order to be implemented, the legislature must approve the plan. The legislature is presently divided 10-9 with the Democrats in the majority.

Giving an historic overview of how the county arrived at its present condition, Mr. Suozzi identified a combination of bad management, lack of budgetary controls, overly generous labor contracts, flawed property assessment system and an information technology deficit.

In elaborating on his own five-part plan, he said that the workforce reduction would reduce the size of the county's workforce by 1,200 employees, or 12 1/2 percent. This will be accomplished through attrition, early retirement via a New York State Employees' Retirement incentive program; terminations resulting from an new employee appraisal process; and, if necessary, civil service layoffs.

Under managerial initiatives, he includes building consolidations; minimization of personal service contracts; reducing fraud in Medicaid applications; energy savings; greater use of grant funds and cuts in nom-mandated program costs.

In his Monday night speech, County Executive Suozzi stressed that he is a "strong supporter of unions. Labor is our partner but Nassau County can no longer continue on its former course." His plan includes $65 million in negotiated labor concessions from the major employee organizations representing county employees including The Police Benevolent Association ($30 million), Detectives Association Incorporated ($2 million), Superior Officers Association ($5 million) and The Civil Service Employees Association ($25 million).

Mr. Suozzi warned his audience that some advertisements from police organizations have tried to confuse reduction in police numbers with danger to public safety. He promised not to let that happen. "Through the collective bargaining process and, where appropriate, interest arbitration proceedings, Nassau County must achieve wage and fringe benefit concessions, time and leave adjustments, redeployment of the workforce, civilianization and work rule changes. Where labor concessions are not achieved, the County will rely on greater workforce reductions through layoffs."

Suozzi said that the amount collected from the public by the property tax increase will be dedicated to a segregated fund and used entirely to retire the county's tax refund debt.

Certain elements of Mr. Suozzi's plan will require New York State legislative enactments, which will be presented to the State Legislature later this month.

In conclusion, the new county executive said, "I have tried the very best I can to solve our problems once and for all. We have experienced the winter of our discontent but spring has arrived with its spirit of renewal."

NIFA is expected to discuss the four-year plan today, Thursday, at a meeting with Suozzi and top lawmakers. The panel is scheduled to present its analysis of the plan at an April 12 meeting. The county legislature is scheduled to vote on the plan on April 22.