Laura Curran vetoes Republican amendments to her 2022 budget

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on Thursday vetoed Republican amendments to her 2022 budget that would cut county fees by $106 million and property taxes by $120 million, saying the measures were "fiscally-irresponsible" and would "jeopardize public health and safety."

The GOP measures also would cut the county property tax levy $120 million — $50 million more than Curran has proposed.

The 12 amendments introduced by majority Republicans were approved 11-8 along party lines on Oct. 17.

Democratic lawmakers all voted against the bills, and abstained from voting on the amended budget, pending an opinion from the county's financial control board.

Republicans have scheduled an override vote for 10 a.m. Friday. A supermajority of 13 would be needed to override Curran's veto.

"The budget I proposed invests in Nassau’s future and maintains fiscal responsibility while cutting County property taxes to their lowest level in 15 years — and I look forward to signing it into law," Curran, a Democrat, said in a statement.

"I disagree with the Majority’s desire to defund the police by repealing the County’s Public Safety fee, which directly funds critical law enforcement activities," Curran said. "I will always fight for a budget that keeps Nassau residents safe and will not allow the County to be driven over the fiscal cliff again by irresponsible budgeting."

Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) responded in a statement Thursday: "By vetoing the Republican Majority’s budget amendments, the county executive has chosen to deny much needed financial relief to our residents, including tax and fee cuts. We will continue to fight overtaxing by the county executive and urge all legislators to vote to override these vetoes."

Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said Democrats plan to vote to uphold Curran's vetoes.

"We will uphold the County Executive's vetoes and continue to work with her to deliver long-term, sustainable relief to our residents," Abrahams said in a statement.

The GOP amendments would eliminate a $55 public safety fee for traffic tickets and a $355 fee to verify a property’s section, block and lot, while reducing a $300 mortgage recording fee to $50.

Curran's $3.5 billion budget proposal for 2022 relies in part on $106.45 million in revenues from the fees.

The amendments also would cut county staff, including seven employees in the county executive's public relations office for savings of $1.1 million.

Republicans argue that better than expected sales tax revenues would offset revenues lost through the fee eliminations.

Democrats decried the fee cuts and reliance on sales tax as "election-year stunts."

About 40% of all county revenue is from sales tax receipts.

The Curran administration says the Nassau County Charter prohibits the legislature from making revenue projections or changing revenue estimates in the county operating budget.

An Oct. 21 report by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, Nassau's financial control board, cautioned against cutting recurring sources of revenue, such as fees, even if the county’s near-term financial outlook appeared to be positive.

Curran's 2022 budget proposal, filed Sept. 15, includes a $70 million reduction in the tax levy.

The spending plan also would boost public safety spending by $45 million, adding 70 positions to the police and probation departments, the county sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies.

Using federal pandemic funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the county also allocated $100 million to provide one-time, direct payments of $375 to county households with income of up to $500,000.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.