Bill would require Suffolk to provide public access to final budget

Earlier this year, Suffolk Legis. Robert Calarco went online to find a final copy of the county's 2013 budget -- six months after it had been adopted. He found just the county executive's proposed version, without any of the adjustments lawmakers had later made. "I didn't think that was appropriate," said Calarco (D-Patchogue).

In response, he introduced a bill requiring the executive's office to publish the adopted operating and capital budgets within three months of their approval.

The bill passed the budget committee last week, and is expected to get final approval Tuesday.

"I think the public should have access to the final budget in a reasonable amount of time," Calarco said.

-- Paul LaRocco