Amendments released to Bellone's $129M budget

A bipartisan legislative working group is proposing adding $8 million to County Executive Steve Bellone's $129.6 million 2014 capital budget. But it also is calling for an $87 million cut in the three-year capital program by delaying the second phase of the new Yaphank jail until at least 2017.

The package of amendments also calls for moving up construction of a new community college gymnasium at the Riverhead campus as well as work on a science and technology building on the college's Brentwood campus.

The proposal was released in advance of the county legislature meeting in Hauppauge Tuesday, during which the lawmakers are expected to vote.

"We have more in the first year, but in the long run we are spending less," said Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), adding that the college projects are the "last piece" of a rebuilding program to help both education and provide construction work to help employment.

Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset), minority leader, called the changes "a good, responsible program that provides money to make repairs" and finish other crucial projects."The overarching point is that this is still less than the adopted 2012 capital budget," he said.

The biggest proposed change is to take the $100 million now split between 2015 and 2016 for new Yaphank jail construction and moving the funding to "subsequent years" beyond the 2014-2016 program.

"We can safely put off construction of a new jail until it becomes clear whether or notwe will even need it," said Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon) deputy presiding officer.Jay Schneiderman, committee chairman, said the need for so much new jail space may be overblown because jail and county populations have not grown as expected."The jail projections were based on 2percent growth in jail population, which is way off," he said.

Jon Schneider, deputy county executive, said, "We're generally supportive of what the legislature has put together and it shows a unified bipartisan effort to impose fiscal discipline."

However, he cautioned the county cannot afford to jeopardize the variances it now receives from the state Commission on Corrections, which saves the county $20 million annually by allowing double bunking and the use of common areas during construction.

The committee also proposed restoring funding for sewer work in Shirley and money to control flooding near the Nissequogue River that Bellone sought to cut. Despite the recommendation of legislative budget analysts, the committee kept funding for a new computer software contract.

Legis. Kate Browning (WFP-Shirley) praised the committee for providing sewer money for her district. "It's a good project that needs the funding so we can be shovel-ready," she said.