On Sept. 15, I submitted my proposed 2001 budget to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) and the Nassau County Legislature. It is a tough, hard-hitting budget that cuts spending below this year's budget. One of the key elements of the budget plan is the consolidation and streamlining of more than a dozen departments. We're applying private business principles to the public sector by reorganizing how we conduct county business to save county taxpayer dollars while continuing to provide important county services.

The consolidation and streamlining of departments will enable us to reduce our county workforce by 350 employees saving $20 million. It is estimated that another 350 employees will take advantage of the county's early retirement and severance programs saving taxpayers another $10 million. The combined retirement/severance programs and consolidations will result in an eight percent reduction in the county workforce at a total estimated savings of nearly $30 million.

I'd like to share with you some of my recommended consolidations, which will be the subject of discussions during legislative budget hearings through the month of October. My recommendations call for the:

* Merger of Departments of Health, Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and Drug and Alcohol Addiction: These three departments will merge into one agency and the Department of Health will serve as lead agency. Since the Departments of Drug and Alcohol Addiction and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities have reached or will reach their state aid reimbursement caps and because the Department of Health has no cap in its reimbursement formula, the merger of these three departments would provide for millions in additional state and federal aid that will provide more funding for clients while cutting county spending. Savings will also be realized through attrition of some of the clerical and administrative positions as well as the elimination of the two commissioner positions. The final structure of these departments will recognize and maintain the autonomy of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for the purposes of obtaining the maximum state aid and statutory compliance.

* Merger of Department of Recreation and Parks with the Office of Cultural Development; Additional Merger with the Department of General Services: The merged departments will now have one commissioner and two deputy commissioners (one for Recreation and Parks and one for General Services). This will allow for the elimination of a total of four Deputy Commissioners between the two departments.

Further, 11 positions will be eliminated resulting in a salary savings of $853,000. Officials estimate future savings through greater efficiencies in hiring and purchasing practices. In addition, all of the routine maintenance functions of the Departments of Recreation and Parks and General Services will be consolidated. During the summer months, the appropriate staff will be deployed from each department to handle projects at county parks and during the winter, parks staff will assist general services in routine maintenance of county facilities. Since the county is reducing non-essential services, the merger of the Office of Cultural Development will save $474,000. The Department of Recreation and Parks will be working toward development of corporate sponsorship programs for future cultural programs.

* Merger of the Office of Labor Relations with the Office of Personnel and the Office of the County Attorney: By moving the grievance procedure into the Office of Personnel and the contract personnel into the County Attorney's office, it is anticipated that $1,100,000 in savings will be achieved. These savings can be attributed to a reduction in positions that currently exist in the Office of Labor Relations along with the reduction in expenses associated with running an independent office (the existing equipment and clerical staffs in both Personnel and County Attorney will be utilized).

* Merger of Office of Affirmative Action into the Department of Public Works: The Office of Affirmative Action works to ensure the fair participation of minorities in County Capital Projects. In an effort to save costs, the director of the Equal Opportunity Employment Office will be consolidated with the Department of Public Works, which is responsible for Capital Projects. The merger is expected to achieve a savings of $183,000.

* Merger of the Office of Women's Services with the Family Resources Center: The Office of Women's Services will be merged with the Family Resource Center to improve and broaden the scope of the innovative, cost-effective programs and services currently available to our residents. A savings of $153,835 will be achieved without any diminution of services.

* Merger of Youth Board with the Department of Social Services: The Youth Board provides an extremely valuable service to our children. Through the merger with Social Services, the county will realize $129,000 in savings while keeping the Youth Board and the reimbursed programs and staff intact. Through this merger, the commissioner of Social Services will also serve as executive director of the Youth Board, thus eliminating the need for the paid position of executive director and the offices will share clerical and administrative staff, allowing for the elimination of one position.

The county budget must be passed by the legislature by Oct. 30. These consolidations are part of the budget that I have submitted, a budget that is a tough, hard-hitting budget that cuts spending below this year's level and will ensure the county's future fiscal health.