Nassau lawmakers approve capital budget

Nassau County lawmakers approved Friday a $166 million capital improvement budget plan that could renew jobs for thousands of workers in the county, officials said.

The plan, pushed and brokered by County Executive Edward Mangano, gained the unanimous approval of the legislature, which is dominated by his fellow Republicans 11-8. But Mangano needed Democrat support because it takes a supermajority vote of 13-members to bond projects.

"This plan creates jobs and opportunities today and improves Nassau County's services and public safety," Mangano said at a news conference in the same building half an hour after the legislative action.

Mangano spoke in the executive and legislative building to a room crowded with members of locals 66, 138, 1298 and others, including CSEA, police unions, and most of the legislature.

The county executive said today's acton means "Nassau County will be a better and safer place to raise a family."

The capital plan includes a shift of about $30 million from some projects to others that Mangano - and apparently the legislature agreed - had previously said was a greater priority this year, such as the firefighters training facility in Bethpage.

Some road projects were delayed, as well as some information technology upgrades.

Other projects getting increased funding included different road work, such as one on Jackson Avenue in Syosset, as well as the Cedar Creek and Bay Park sewage treatment plants; park maintenance and improvements, and an increased number of consoles at a new 911 Call Center.

Peter Schmitt, the legislature's presiding officer, said, "There's no Republican or Democratic way to fix roads and buildings."

Minority Leader Diane Yatauro of Glen Cove said both the Republican and Democratic caucuses worked hard on the capital budget, then added: "[Chief Deputy County Executive] Rob Walker owned this project and made sure that ever aspect of it was understood"by the legislature.