Nassau lawmakers prepare veto overrides

Nassau GOP and Democratic lawmakers Tuesday filed separate resolutions to override County Executive Edward Mangano's veto and eliminate a 1.2 percent property tax hike from the county's 2016 budget.

The bills, filed by Republicans in the 12-member legislative majority and Democrats in the seven-member minority, would restore the GOP's amended budget, which did not include the tax hike. Mangano used a line-item veto last week to restore the tax increase.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on the override measures Friday. Thirteen votes are needed for a budget override.

"We have every confidence that the county executive will successfully manage the 2016 budget as passed by this legislature without a tax increase," Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said.

Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said Democrats "unequivocally support an override to eliminate the tax increase."

Mangano says the tax increase will generate $12 million in revenue and is needed to balance the budget. He said the increase will cost the average homeowner $23 per year.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a state monitoring board in control of the county's finances, will vote Nov. 19 to approve or reject the budget.

NIFA chairman Jon Kaiman said he has had no discussions with Gonsalves and that it was too early to say how the board will vote.

"We had hoped the legislature would not fall off the cliff but it appears they've grabbed hold and jumped off," Kaiman said.

Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin said Mangano "plans to meet with NIFA to further discuss the legislature's planned actions."

NIFA could reject the budget and send it back to Mangano and legislative leaders for major changes. NIFA could reject the revisions and make changes, including spending cuts in all departments.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.