Nassau GOP backs away from Mangano union concessions

Nassau's GOP lawmakers have backed away from Republican County Executive Edward Mangano's controversial legislation that would have directed him to "order" $61 million in union concessions to help balance next year's proposed $2.6 billion budget.

Presiding officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said Mangano's proposed Taxpayer Relief Act was set aside to allow time for the county executive to negotiate union concessions and could be passed in the future, if needed.

"That legislation is a trigger which I am not prepared to pull because they are still negotiating," Schmitt said. "I am hopeful they will overcome their differences and reach a deal."

Several Democratic lawmakers contend Republicans dropped the bill because its approval would have triggered immediate lawsuits from the county's unions. "It appears the county finally agreed with the unions that it would be unconstitutional to impose legislation that would cut contractual salaries," said James Carver, president of the Police Benevolent Association.

However, dropping the bill makes it even less likely that Mangano will nail down $61 million in union savings by the Oct. 30 deadline for approving next year's budget.

The county executive "submitted a balanced, no-property-tax-increase budget to the Legislature and expects presiding officer Schmitt and the Legislature to enact a balanced budget by the end of the month," Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin said.

"Stay tuned," said Schmitt, who is expected to submit budget amendments by Friday.

Republican and Democratic sources say the county, with union support, is exploring the possibility of hiking Nassau's sales tax by a quarter of a cent after next month's elections as a way to raise $60 million annually.

Both Mangano and Schmitt sidestepped questions about a sales tax increase.

"We have no comment at this time," Nevin said. "A lot of ideas have been mentioned."

Schmitt said, "This is news to me. I'm busy with the budget. That's what I'm doing every day for many, many hours a day until this is done."