Despite budget woes, business as usual in Nassau

Nassau’s financial control board acted tough Thursday night, rejecting Nassau’s 2016 budget as unbalanced and directing county lawmakers to make spending cuts or find new revenues by the end of the month. If not, warned members of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, they would do it themselves.

But so far it seems like business as usual for the county legislature.

Agendas for Monday's legislative meetings call for lawmakers to approve more than $200 million in borrowing for capital projects, such as road repairs and new buildings, and more than $5.6 million in new contracts to build new police stations or improve drainage in low-lying areas.

Lawmakers are even scheduled to approve four new so-called “community revitalization projects,” which are similar to state member items in that each legislator is allowed to gift a local government or taxing district with some amenity paid for with borrowed funds. The cost of these projects, which include procuring and planting trees in the Village of Atlantic Beach, are not listed on the calendar.

NIFA must approve all borrowing and most contracts.

NIFA chairman Jon Kaiman Friday said he couldn't comment because lawmakers have until Nov. 30 to cut spending or increase revenues.

But another NIFA member warned privately, “Expect to see us not approve anything until they satisfy us on the budget. It’s not business as usual at NIFA right now.”