Mangano to call residents Tuesday about 2011 budget plan

County Executive Edward Mangano will make random calls around the county at 7 Tuesday night, asking residents what's on their minds when it comes to Nassau.

Faced with the strain of having to close a projected $343-million budget deficit, Mangano's effort to talk with residents comes after he has proposed a budget of $2.6 billion that seeks $60 million in union concessions and ends county guaranteed refunds for excess taxes collected by school districts and towns.

The Republican's tele-Town Hall is a first for a Nassau County executive, according to his office. He will use a machine to randomly make hundreds, maybe thousands, of calls within the hour.

"My administration has used every medium available to us to communicate with the public both good and bad news. In the wake of releasing my 2011 budget proposal, it is necessary to speak directly with our residents about my plans to protect their tax dollars. I am very much looking forward to this opportunity to both listen and discuss the issues on our residents' minds."

He apparently hopes that the hourlong event from his offices in Mineola will begin to show how residents are responding to his budget proposal, which he said is balanced but includes reductions in some areas, along with proposed fee hikes.

"If a resident receives a call and has a question, he or she can stay on the line and have the question answered in the order received until the hour is up," said Mangano spokesman Michael Martino.

One union leader took a neutral position on the event. "I think it is always good to listen to what your residents and employees have to say," said Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the union with the most county employees, the 9,000-member CSEA Local 830.