Nassau moves don't start until after election

Nassau's recently approved budget assumes savings or new revenue from an array of painful moves -- including closing police precincts and the possible layoffs of hundreds of employees -- that won't occur until after Tuesday's election.

The initiatives planned by County Executive Edward Mangano include the sale of the county sewage treatment system, settlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax challenges, switching the county's bus service to a private operator by Jan. 1, and, for the first time, billing school districts and other nonprofit organizations for sewage disposal.

The lack of details already has sparked controversy.

Angry bus riders and drivers temporarily shut down a budget hearing last week as they demanded that Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) disclose the county's proposed deal with Veolia Transportation to take over the bus service.

Democrats say Republicans have deliberately put off public hearings and details about the controversial moves to avoid fallout at the polls on Tuesday, when all 19 legislative seats are up for election. Republicans control the legislature with an 11-8 majority.

Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said Schmitt "knows there are some very difficult votes coming up and he's trying to protect his members purely for electoral purposes."

Schmitt said politics played no part in the timing of the upcoming votes.

"This is the working of the legislative process," he said. "When the issues are laid before the legislature, there will be ample opportunity to question and comment." He said most of the scheduling is up to Mangano, who must file the appropriate bills before the legislature can act.

Mangano aide Brian Nevin said the administration is completing details and the initiatives will be submitted when completed.

Stanley Klein, a political science professor at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and a Suffolk GOP committeeman, said he is not surprised that details have not been released about moves that might upset voters. The rule, he said, is "no bad news before an election."

Major Nassau budget initiatives

Here are several Nassau budget initiatives that the county legislature will consider after Tuesday's election:

Police precincts Lawmakers will determine which two of eight will be closed after County Executive Edward Mangano submits a plan, said an aide to Presiding officer Peter Schmitt. The precincts will not be closed if unions provide $150 million in givebacks, said Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin.

Bus contract The agreement to privatize the county bus system has not been delivered to the legislature. The contract has been signed by Veolia Transportation, is under final review by the county attorney and will be submitted "shortly," said Nevin.

List of employees to be laid off Has not been delivered to the legislature. The list has been filed with Civil Service Commission to determine the "bump and retreat" process," in which employees may choose to revert to lower paid positions they once held, Nevin said.

$19 million in sewage disposal bills to nonprofit agencies The legislature approved the program last year. Nevin said the county has retained a firm to draw up billing procedures but bills have yet to be mailed.

Contract with Morgan Stanley to handle the sale of the county's sewage treatment system Has not been delivered to legislature. Currently, the company is working under on a $25,000 contract, which does not need legislative approval, Nevin said. A larger contract will be forwarded when complete. A request for proposals to privatize the system will be sent out in four to six weeks.

Tax challenge settlements As part of a deal with a state control board to borrow to pay the costs, settlements will be sent to the legislature "shortly," said Nevin. (The legislature must approve all settlements over $100,000. In 2009, for instance, the legislature approved about 70 totaling $21.23 million. None have been sent to the legislature so far this year.)

Legal bills for redistricting lawsuits Legislature has yet to receive total bills for two law firms.

-- Celeste Hadrick