Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi unveiled Monday his 2008 budget proposal, one that raises recreational fees instead of property taxes.

The $2.5 billion spending plan keeps taxes constant and does not cut services for the fifth consecutive year, Suozzi said.

"The number one concern of people who live here in Nassau County is their property taxes," he said.

Suozzi said a shrinking workforce, department mergers, union contract concessions and a cap on Medicaid costs enabled property taxes to remain the same. The county is also depending on the state Legislature to approve $15 million in higher mortgage fees, he said.

Suozzi expects to generate an approximate $2 million in revenue by increasing fees for beaches, campgrounds, picnics, athletic fields, cabanas, marina docking, ice hockey programs, indoor rinks and golf courses.

Several proposed recreational fee hikes were rejected last year by the county Legislature, which must approve a budget by the end of October.

"This is a good thing, no tax increase," Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) said. "Now let's get to the nitty gritty of how we got there."

Republican Deputy Press Secretary Cristina Brenna said the minority party's legislators will look to the details as well and then hold hearings on the proposal.

For complete footage of Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's news conference on his 2008 budget proposal, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.