Nassau lawmakers passed a new tax along party lines Monday, which means as of June 1 residents will pay 2.5 percent more to heat their homes.

The county is facing a $130 million budget deficit. County Executive Tom Suozzi is working with unions and lawmakers to come up with ways to plug it. All 10 Democrats voted for the new tax and all nine Republicans voted against it.

?It's disgraceful and it's not a step this county should ever have taken,? Minority Leader Leg. Peter Schmitt (R) says.

Democratic Legislator Judy Jacobs (Woodbury) says she doesn?t advocate raising taxes on necessities, but that the tax is something that could really help the country from going under.

The new tax applies to all forms of home heating including oil, gas, electric, propane, kerosene and firewood. Nassau officials say the home heating tax will bring in about $18 million for 2009 and up to $45 million in 2010.