The Republican-controlled Nassau Legislature took the unusual step Monday of issuing subpoenas to Curran administration officials for information as to all the possible alternatives to deal with the county's financial crisis.

"The pandemic does not prevent them from providing this information to us," said Nassau Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello.

Nicolello says the subpoenas were served after several letters seeking information from the Curran administration went largely unanswered. At issue is the staggering budget deficit left by the pandemic.

As News 12 has reported, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran says the county is facing a $749 million deficit over the next 18 months.

Curran wants to close the gap by asking NIFA, the county's financial control board, to refinance $285 million of that debt over the next two years.

The move could save Nassau hundreds of millions of dollars, but Republicans are concerned it would also help prolong NIFA's control of the county's finances until 2051.

Curran responded with a statement that reads in part, "Nassau County's Office of Management and Budget briefed the legislature on a fiscally responsible plan to put Nassau County back on stable financial footing over month ago and has yet to receive any alternative proposals for solving the unprecedented fiscal crisis."

The subpoenas call for the Curran administration to provide the information requested before the budget hearing, which is scheduled for Monday.