The Nassau comptroller is advising county lawmakers to cut the budget or face financial hardships in the future.

Howard Weitzman projects a modest $16 million cash surplus for Nassau this year, but warns that growing expenses and stagnant revenues are a recipe for fiscal disaster down the road. Some legislators say the only way to avoid a deficit is to cut spending and raise taxes. Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) says a 4 percent increase, translating to about a dollar a week for the average homeowner, could be the only solution.

Weitzman and Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi have ordered the budget committee to resolve the issue by September without raising taxes. The Suozzi administration says it is confident the legislature will have a responsible budget plan by the deadline.