Oyster Bay supervisor looks to save money through job transfers

<p>Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Anthony Saladino&rsquo;s proposed budget includes a plan to save over $1 million by transferring some employees from Oyster Bay town to Nassau County.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 6, 2017, 7:12 PM

Updated 2,564 days ago

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Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino's proposed budget includes a plan to save over $1 million by transferring some employees from Oyster Bay town to Nassau County.
The plan would transfer 12 town public safety officers to Nassau County.  He says it's also a way to qualify for state incentives for local municipalities to find ways to share services. 
"In this scenario, we would be saving $1.3 million," says Saladino. "The county would reduce its overtime costs, and this is a proposal that we need to look at very seriously."
The county says that it does have a shortage of public safety officers. Legislator Arnie Drucker of Plainview says the plan doesn't seem like it will help taxpayers one bit.
"It's shifting the burden from one municipality that is cash-strapped and in fiscal distress onto another municipality that is financially strapped and distressed," says Drucker.
Charles Ribando, Nassau's deputy county executive for public safety, says the plan is at least worth considering. 
"Since the county does have a need for additional public safety officers, this project requires inter-municipal agreements by all governing bodies and union agreements,” says Ribando. “We will be reviewing their proposal and meeting with the town."
While the deal might help save the town money, it doesn't necessarily mean it will help taxpayers at all -- especially for those who live in Nassau County but not the Town of Oyster Bay.
That's exactly what Wantagh business owner and resident Frank Trivigno fears.
"It's gonna cost us more in taxes," says Trivigno. "Who pays the bill? We do!"
A town spokesperson says a formal proposal should be submitted to the county next week. It would require approval from the Oyster Bay Town Board, the Nassau County executive, County Legislature, and presumably, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which oversees county finances. A spokesperson for NIFA declined to comment.