Mangano cuts include layoffs, furloughs

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano is proposing 213 layoffs and a 13-day unpaid furlough for all county employees, including himself, amid a series of drastic personnel reductions aimed at satisfying a state oversight agency.

Mangano also plans to redeploy 142 police officers to street patrol from special assignments, such as the K-9 unit and the marine bureau, and possibly close one police precinct.

The Republican county executive delivered a revised spending plan to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority before the close of business Tuesday.

The state oversight agency, which voted to take control of the county's finances in January, had demanded a new plan to address what it found was a $176 million deficit in the county's $2.6 billion budget. Mangano has maintained that his budget is balanced, but a State Supreme Court justice last week rejected the county's attempt to stop the takeover.

The eight-page executive summary of his revised plan was obtained by Newsday. It provides a broad outline of his cuts, but few details, which are expected to be released in coming days.

For example, the police redeployment, including the reassignment of 41 civilians in the department, includes a consolidation plan that likely will eliminate one police precinct. He did not identify that precinct, though two county sources said they believe the station house in Manhasset is targeted.

Mangano also lists $17.7 million in savings from cutting contractual services, but does not identify the programs that will be reduced or eliminated. A list of affected agencies will be made public Wednesday, he said. As Mangano promised, his spending plan does not include any increase in property taxes. "The unions have an opportunity to offer alternative savings," Mangano said in an interview Tuesday. "Unless such concessions are reached, the plan will be enacted in its entirety by July 1."

Mangano had tried to obtain voluntary concessions from the county's five unions, but labor leaders say they already gave back under former County Executive Thomas Suozzi. Without concessions, "what the people will see is the lowest workforce since the 1950s, a reduction in services and the possibility of the elimination of services," Mangano said. "The only thing taxpayers won't see is a tax increase."

Asked about park or museum closings, Mangano said, "Everything is on the table right now. The reduction in labor affects our ability to operate. There could be an adjustment in the days and hours of operations."

The county legislature must approve any layoffs or furloughs. A spokesman for presiding officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said he was awaiting more details before commenting.

Mangano is asking NIFA, which meets Thursday, to impose a wage freeze on county employees and to freeze "longevity" payments -- one-time bonuses that increase with years of service. NIFA has the authority to freeze salaries if it declares a fiscal emergency.

Mangano also expects to close the $176 million gap through increased revenue from fees approved by the county legislature and an uptick in sales tax revenue.

The plan reduces the expected cost of tax refunds this year from $100 million to $70 million as a result of a just-completed residential tax settlement program. Mangano privatized handling of hundreds of tax protests and said nearly 51,000 of 61,523 outstanding tax protests were settled.

Spending plan's major points

• 213 employees from nearly two dozen departments would be laid off.