Mangano to push reform in annual speech

Nassau County continues to face tough challenges as it tries to balance its budget, County Executive Edward Mangano will say in his State of the County address Wednesday night.

"It's time for reform and difficult choices, and that means continuing to correct the fiscal policies of the past," Mangano, a Republican, said Tuesday in an interview.

But Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), ranking member of the Finance Committee, said Democratic County Executive Thomas Suozzi left Mangano a balanced budget. "He inherited a balanced 2010 budget and 'managed' it to two successive record deficits," Denenberg said of Mangano. "Taxpayers can't afford Mangano's borrow-and-spend polices."

Mangano said that in his speech at the Cradle of Aviation Museum he will announce the contractor for a multipurpose exposition center at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in the central Hub area.

He said he also will announce a program to purchase older homes for military veterans. The county's Industrial Development Agency will "bond funds to buy and restore homes for veterans," Mangano said.