LIA: Nassau, Suffolk should ponder merger

Nassau and Suffolk counties, beset by deficits and weighing layoffs, should consider merging into a single county in the future to increase efficiencies and stabilize taxes, Long Island Association president Kevin Law proposed to the LIA board Wednesday.

The proposal, still in the conceptual phase and requiring a study of the pros and cons of such a move, envisions a single Long Island County that would be the state's most populous (and the country's seventh most populous). It would be governed by a single county executive and a single legislature, with combined police forces.

A former deputy county executive for Suffolk County and LIPA chairman and chief executive, Law said he understands the potential political ramifications of the plan, and the anticipated pushback from officials seeking to retain their political clout. "Nobody ever wants to give up their domain," he said.

But challenging economic conditions require out-of-the-box thinking, he said. "The status quo is not sustainable," he said.

The proposal would strengthen Long Island's regional identity and give the Island greater influence in Albany and Washington, Law said. "Talk about clout," he said, noting the combined 2.8 million residents.

To make the proposal a reality, Law wants to hold a public referendum and secure home rule approvals from the county legislatures in 2013, then obtain approval from the State Legislature and the governor in 2014.

The notion of combining the two counties followed months of headlines that have detailed both counties' dire financial conditions, Law said. "I think both counties are in crisis mode, their financial situation is in crisis mode," he said.

Law presented the proposal Wednesday to the LIA board and its executive committee. He was expected to brief both county executives Wednesday, and take the idea to Albany next week.

"I support the LIA in its initiative to examine whether consolidating county governments will achieve savings for our residents," said Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy did not provide a comment.

The LIA board took no action on the proposal Wednesday, but is expected next month to vote on starting an independent study of the plan.

Law expects the Long Island Regional Planning Council, which has lost funding from the counties, to be strengthened by the merger concept. He sees it as an agency "with teeth" that could forcefully take on projects like the Nassau hub or a new one proposed for the area near Long Island MacArthur Airport. The Long Island Power Authority could become a county agency, perhaps merged with the water authority and other public utilities, Law said.

Local towns and villages would retain authority over lot plans or subdivisions.

Law said he traveled to Washington Wednesday to meet with officials at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Brookings Institution to explore the mechanics of conducting the study, which could cost $200,000. The LIA may look for outside entities to fund the study, he said.

The LIA doesn't support efforts, including a bill in the state Legislature, for Long Island to secede from New York and form a 51st state. "The legal issues and hurdles are too great," he said.

Law noted it could be five years or more before the studies, hearings, and state and federal approvals needed for the proposal are vetted and publicly aired, and a merger to happen. "It's not going to happen overnight," he said.

Even if ultimately the concept is rejected, it may spawn ideas and discussions that could preserve services and jobs without having to increase taxes. "I wouldn't push for this unless it made sense," he said.