Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced a plan Tuesday to plug the $150 million hole in the county budget, without raising taxes.
Levy said by taking the steps he?s outlined, the county can save about $75 million. His plan includes an early retirement incentive for county employees and the securing of tobacco settlement money. The reduction of county vehicles and equipment, along with the sale of the county?s nursing facility in Yaphank, are also part of the plan.
?We have to act early and in a bipartisan manner to get this plan in place to avoid tax increases,? Levy said at a press conference.
Both Democrats and Republicans are behind the plan and agree with Levy about the urgency of passing the measure. Legislators on both sides of the aisle said there is a lot of work to do before the end of April, when the full Legislature will vote on a budget plan.
To see Levy's press conference announcing the budget plan, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.