Nassau Democrats say they have a plan to make the county's contracting process more transparent.

Currently, contracts worth less than $25,000 can be approved by County Executive Ed Mangano without legislative approval.

Last week, County Executive Ed Mangano and Republican legislators suggested lowering the threshold from $25,000 to $1,000 after critics said the system was being abused.

Democrats in the Legislature say that plan does not go far enough, and that there needs to be more transparency.

On Monday, Democrats submitted their own proposal to change the way Nassau awards contracts. They say the county should hire an independent inspector general with no ties to the county executive or the Legislature to oversee the process.

"We have to hire an independent body that will examine contracts and be able to share input regardless of political persuasion or who signs his check," said Democratic Legislator Kevan Abrahams.

Legislator Rich Nicolello, who is the deputy presiding officer of the Legislature, said the plan of hiring an independent inspector general makes no sense and would clutter the process.

On Monday evening, all seven members of the Rules Committee voted to approve that county contracts $1,000 and up must go before Nassau County legistators for approval. 

The Democrats also said they will not support any more capital borrowing, which funds contracts, unless they get an indepdendent inspector general.

The next Legislature meeting is scheduled to be held on March 21.