NIFA: Nassau should focus on fiscal woes

A state fiscal monitoring board Tuesday urged Nassau County to focus on its "daunting" fiscal problems now that voters have decided against borrowing to build a new Nassau Coliseum.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which took control of Nassau's finances in January, said in a statement it was "hopeful . . . the county will now devote all of its energies . . . into balancing the county budget."

NIFA noted the "difficulties" remaining in the five months left in the fiscal year, and said it also remained "very concerned about a 2012 budget deficit we estimate at approximately $225 million. . . . We look forward to working with the county in dealing with this daunting challenge of balancing the budget for now, next year and the future with a renewed and undistracted focus."

Brian Nevin, spokesman for County Executive Edward Mangano, countered: "NIFA has not provided a single solution to address the budgetary mess created on their watch. One can only hope that NIFA's highly paid staff and consultants will provide a solution that doesn't include raising property taxes, as County Executive Mangano will not accept that as a solution."