The Nassau County comptroller says an old and wasteful practice is costing taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Howard Weitzman says hundreds of county employees who are married to each other receive duplicate health benefits, which costs the county $13,000 per employee. Weitzman has introduced a bill, backed by Democratic lawmakers, to end the long-standing practice for non-union workers. He says the new measure would impact 24 non-union couples and save the county $276,000 the first year.

Weitzman says ending duplicate benefits for nearly 700 employees and retirees, including those in a union, would save the county $28 million over six years. However, the county?s largest union says it already made concessions at the bargaining table. John Rinaldo, of CSEA Local 830, says health care is a subject of negotiation and cannot be legislated.