Nassau Dems tie budget to redistricting

Nassau Democratic lawmakers Thursday told Republican County Executive Edward Mangano and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) that they will not vote for any borrowing needed to balance the county budget without a "binding agreement" for "independent, non-partisan redistricting."

Incoming Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) issued the ultimatum in a hand-delivered letter signed by all nine Democrats, including Legis.-elect Carrié Solages of Elmont. The GOP majority will need Democratic votes to obtain a supermajority of the 19-member legislature to approve borrowing.

The letter comes as lawmakers on Monday are being asked to approve $102 million in borrowing to pay property tax refunds and $54 million to cover employee severance costs. It follows a state control board's approval of a county financial plan that calls for borrowing $450 million over four years to pay operating expenses.

Although Republicans control the 19-member county legislature, they need Democratic votes to obtain the supermajority of 13 votes required for borrowing.

Abrahams noted that Republicans in last month's elections retained a majority by just 106 votes -- the difference between incumbent Republican Joseph Belesi (R-Farmingdale) and Democratic challenger Eva Pearson.

"There must be a fair and open process in place to ensure the people of this county are protected from purely partisan legislative districts designed to truly circumvent the electoral process and good governance," Abrahams wrote, referring to the GOP's unsuccessful attempt to redistrict this year. "Redistricting is tied directly and inextricably to borrowing."

Mangano shot back: "Having not achieved success at the ballot box, these Democratic legislators have threatened to scuttle Nassau's fiscal recovery plan unless their own petty political needs are met. . . . Their action further threatens every resident with increased taxes and employees with furloughs to make up for the hundred million dollar hole they are threatening to blow in Nassau's budget."

Mangano characterized Abraham's demand "as nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at extortion."

Schmitt spokesman Ed Ward said that linking redistricting to borrowing "is highly inappropriate. One has nothing to do with the other."

Chris Wright, a member of the county's control board, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, said: "NIFA has been clear from the start that the legislative process needs to run its course. With an even more narrow Republican majority in 2012, bipartisan cooperation will be required to get debt approval."

Abrahams said Democrats are modeling their plan on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal for independent redistricting. The Democrats' proposal would bar political, elected or appointed officials and their relatives from serving on a reapportionment board. "We're prepared to hang tough," Abrahams said. "It's important that we keep a system in place that allows fair and competitive races in Nassau County."