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Lawmakers comb through Suozzi's budget for savings

? The Nassau County Legislature combed through Executive Tom Suozzi?s budget Monday in an attempt to cut at least $30 million in spending. Legislators are revisiting Suozzi?s new budget due in part to

News 12 Staff

Oct 21, 2008, 7:17 PM

Updated 5,958 days ago

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? The Nassau County Legislature combed through Executive Tom Suozzi?s budget Monday in an attempt to cut at least $30 million in spending.
Legislators are revisiting Suozzi?s new budget due in part to the Wall Street collapse and economic slowdown.
The executive says he may have to plug a $30 million hole by raising property taxes nearly 4 percent. Republicans are adamant against a tax hike and say some of Suozzi?s appointees should go first. They say such a move would save the county $25 million.
"These are community representatives, people who helped him run for governor,? Leg. Peter Schmitt, the minority leader, says. ?Who knows what a lot of them are? We can't figure out what they do."
Suozzi says his biggest concern is the slumping sales tax revenue. Majority Democrats say every county department and agency will be scrutinized again for possible savings.
?Everything is on the table now,? Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro says.
There are already cuts included in Suozzi?s budget plan. Ninety-eight county police department jobs are on the chopping block. Suozzi has also proposed closing the Traffic and Violations Bureau two nights a week and cutting the fire training program budget by 3 percent. There may also be cuts to youth service agency funding.
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