Republicans offer plan to boost Suffolk

Suffolk Republican lawmakers Wednesday laid out a "road map" for returning Suffolk to prosperity by merging services and selling liens on unpaid property taxes to private investors for $65 million.

"It's a time to look at what is necessary and deliver what are the necessary services," said Legis. John M. Kennedy (R-Nesconet), the legislative minority leader.

Appearing at a news conference outside a shuttered supermarket in East Patchogue, Kennedy and Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches) joined by more than a dozen GOP candidates for county legislature, released an eight-page plan titled "LI Jobs 2011."

Republican county executive candidate Angie Carpenter, whose campaign sent the advisory for the event, was also present and praised lawmakers for "thinking out of the box." But she declined to endorse details of the plan because she had only received a copy the day before.

Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, later described the GOP proposals as "rehashed or recycled," and said they would add patronage jobs at a time when county workers are facing 700 layoffs. He compared Republicans to the "gang who couldn't shoot straight" because the news conference was announced by the Carpenter campaign, but "she obviously had no input" into the proposals.

Carpenter's campaign declined to respond.

The GOP legislative proposals include creation of a county inspector general's office, merging the county parks police with the deputy sheriffs and combining the planning department with the department of energy and environment.

At the same time, the plan calls for adding critical "front-line" workers who deal with the public in areas such as community policing and restaurant inspection.

The most sweeping proposal, the sale of tax liens for unpaid property taxes, would allow investors to purchase the liens at a discount -- and later to collect penalties and interest, or take title to properties.

Legislative Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) said past proposals to sell tax liens had caused concern among lawmakers.

"But in this climate I'm ready to look at anything," he said.

Except for the sale of tax liens, GOP lawmakers could not estimate savings, revenues or the number of workers their proposals would affect. Kennedy said financial details will be unveiled at another GOP news conference on Tuesday.

Republicans' plan

Highlights of GOP legislative proposals:

• Create a county inspector general's office

• Merge the county parks police with the deputy sheriffs

• Combine the planning department with the department of energy and environment.

• Pare down county offices, including aging, women's services and veterans affairs

• Drop the county community development unit

• Add "front-line" workers who deal with the public in areas such as community policing and restaurant inspection.

• Sell tax liens on unpaid property taxes to private investors.

• Allow a two-month amnesty for health and building code violators.