Blakeman pushes to end NIFA control, citing balanced Nassau budget
Blakeman argues NIFA’s continued control is no longer necessary, nearly 15 years after the authority took over amid a county financial crisis.
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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the county’s finances are strong enough to end oversight by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, pointing to a balanced budget for the fourth consecutive year.
Blakeman argues NIFA’s continued control is no longer necessary, nearly 15 years after the authority took over amid a county financial crisis.
“Why control Nassau County when it’s no longer necessary?” Blakeman said. “Our fiscal management has been outstanding.”
Blakeman is calling on NIFA to end its control period, saying the agency costs taxpayers between $2 million and $3 million annually.
“We have met all of our goals and exceeded them by having surpluses every year without raising taxes,” he said.
NIFA declined to speak on camera but sent News 12 a statement saying the decision to end control rests with the governor and the NIFA board. The authority sharply disputed Blakeman’s claims.
“County Executive Blakeman’s claims regarding his administration’s savings are simply false and it must be held accountable for its management of the county’s finances,” said Richard Kessel, NIFA chairman. “We have no intention of ending the control period. We are going to be around for a long, long time.”
A spokesperson for Blakeman pushed back, saying the county ended the fiscal year with a $15 million surplus and did not use $30 million in reserves that had been planned.
