Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) recently joined in unanimously approving several home-rule messages at a special legislative meeting that enabled the successful passage of several New York State legislative initiatives vital to Nassau County's fiscal recovery.

"The leadership provided by our state legislature, especially that of the Long Island delegation, has helped Nassau County take an emphatic and encouraging step towards fiscal stability," said Legislator Corbin. "We must now focus on building on this momentum and following through on the financial plan set forth by County Executive Thomas Suozzi."

Among the state initiatives that were approved on the final day of the legislative session was the reform of the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, putting it under the direct authority of the county executive. This initiative, as well as several others relating to the reform of this agency, was identified in a special hearing held by Legislator Joseph Scannell in late 2000. It is projected that the county will realize revenues of $7.5 million by 2005.

The state also passed a legislative initiative that will dramatically alter the county's tax assessment and certiorari process, a system that has buckled under the weight of a relentless stream of grievances over the last decade. According to this legislation, the county will have one year to review grievances and achieve settlements before triggering its refund obligations. This initiative will save $39 million between 2002 and 2005.

A third state initiative expands the bonding authority of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), the state oversight board. The legislation provides NIFA with enough additional bonding authority to cover Nassau County's $1.2 billion tax refund obligations, which will enable the county to retire its outstanding tax certiorari debt eight years ahead of schedule, producing savings of nearly $300 million.

A final initiative, prompted by another of the legislature's home rule messages, was the exemption of eligible senior citizens from the county's proposed 2003 real property tax increase. The eligibility requirements will mirror those established for the New York State Enhanced School Tax Relief (STAR) program.

Earlier this year, the state legislature established an early retirement program to assist the county in reducing its workforce. The county opted into the state program and is projected to save $42.9 million by 2005.

Honoring the legacy of the late Barbara Johnson, Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) joined his Democratic colleagues at a recent meeting of the Nassau County Legislature in voting to change the name of Baxter Pond in the village of Baxter Estates to the Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve at Baxter Pond. The resolution was unanimously approved by the legislature.

Barbara Johnson was serving as Nassau County Legislator in the 11th district when she died in 2000, following a lengthy battle with breast cancer. During her two terms in office, she was known as a fiery and energetic advocate for her community and the environment. With strong public support, she spearheaded the restoration of Baxter Pond Park and the adjacent watershed valley, which had become severely polluted. The project eventually won approval and was recently completed.

Legislator Craig Johnson, who was elected to finish out his mother's term and re-elected this past November, said, "My family and I are deeply touched and honored that the Baxter Estates community has requested to rename the park in my mother's honor. The residents of Baxter Estates and all the residents of the 11th district meant a great deal to her and she would have been very humbled to be remembered this way."

Legislator Corbin, who worked side-by-side with Barbara Johnson for years, said on behalf of the Democratic majority that renaming the park in memory of the late legislator is recognition she deserves for all her years of hard work and dedication to the community.

The unveiling of the park's new sign will take place at a special ceremony held at the park on Saturday, October 12.

Nassau County Legislator and Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) recently joined members of the Democratic majority in approving a $70 million Capital Budget for 2003 and four-year Capital Plan put forth by County Executive Thomas Suozzi and his administration. The 2003 budget slices almost 60 percent from the $160,435,325 in capital spending originally proposed by former County Executive Thomas Gulotta.

This is the first time that the legislature has put into action a county law adopted last year and approved by voters in a public referendum in November 2001 that requires the county executive to submit to the legislature for approval a capital budget for the coming year and a four year plan that outlines projects and anticipates expenditures. Changes to the capital budget and planning process were spearheaded by Legislator Brian Muellers (D-Glen Cove), chair of the Public Works Committee. The budget and plan were unanimously adopted.

"While there have been significant cuts to the capital budget we have worked cooperatively with the county executive and his staff to ensure that we will still be able to secure the funding necessary to complete some of the projects that are imperative to the health, safety and welfare of residents within our communities," said Corbin on behalf of the Democratic majority.

Members of the Rules Committee approved a resolution officially changing the name of the county park known as Baxter Pond Park to Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve at Baxter's Pond in memory of the late legislator Barbara Johnson who died in 2000. Legislator Craig Johnson, her son, was elected to the seat in a special election following her death and re-elected this past November.

Also approved during the June 10 legislative meeting was the appointment of James H. Lawrence as Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department. Mr. Lawrence follows Commissioner William Willet who retired earlier this year.

Legislators confirmed the appointments of Eugene Murray as a member of the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board; John Carway as a member of the Nassau County Board of Parole; and Fred Lee and Rajinder Uppal, MD, as members of the Commission of Human Rights.

Other matters approved during the meeting are:

* Bond ordinances to settle various judgements and court orders against the county

* An ordinance authorizing lump sum payments to various individuals in the office of the fire marshal and the Nassau County Police Department to settle grievances

* An ordinance appropriating $50,000 for Police Department VIN Etching

* An ordinance appropriating $65,221 for defender based advocacy

* An ordinance appropriating $112,200 for DA Sexual Assault nurse examiners

* An ordinance appropriating $100,000 for Police Department Surveillance apprehension vehicle enforcement program

* An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for a College Entrance Pre-Program

* An ordinance appropriating $75,000 for the coordination of students' intercollegiate programs

* An ordinance appropriating $505,706 for Gear Up

* An ordinance appropriating $360,000 for the Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program

* An ordinance appropriating $27,457 for the Village of Island Park Housing Authority, 100 percent reimbursable from HUD

* An ordinance appropriating $12,319 for the Village of Farmingdale, 100 percent reimbursable from HUD

* An ordinance appropriating $874,349 for Nassau County Section 8 Existing Housing Program

* An ordinance appropriating $85,598 for the Nassau County Planning Commission, Division of Transportation

* An ordinance appropriating $422,363 for the Title IIE-NY Elder Care Giver Support Program

* An ordinance appropriating $2,500 for a child passenger safety program

* An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for the purchase of three Intoxilyzer instruments

* An ordinance appropriating $215,540 for DWI Program Enhancement

* An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for the handicapped parking enforcement program

* An ordinance appropriating $620,588 for a Special Delinquency Prevention Program

* An ordinance appropriating $500,000 for USDA Summer Lunch Program

* An ordinance appropriating $69,385 for the Levittown delinquency prevention youth program

* A resolution authorizing the county executive an agreement with the Department of Public Works and the City of Glen Cove in relation to emergency repair work to the sewer system

* A resolution authorizing an agreement with Melville Hospitality for construction and installation of Melville Hospitality sewer lines

* A resolution authorizing a grant application between Nassau County Dept. of Sr. Citizen Affairs and the NYS Office for the Aging in relation to the Caregivers Resource Center Program

* A resolution to accept a gift from the Village of Lynbrook to the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office

* A resolution concerning the assessed valuation by the real property class for the year 2003

* A resolution authorizing the Town of Hempstead to correct erroneous assessments and taxes in various school districts

* A resolution authorizing the Town of Oyster Bay to correct erroneous assessments and taxes in various school districts.