Suffolk legislature OKs 2012 budget

Capping a painful monthlong process, the Suffolk legislature Wednesday approved a 2012 budget that temporarily eliminates most layoffs in County Executive Steve Levy's plan, but raises taxes in the process.

Lawmakers approved the two most critical budget amendments by a 16-2 vote. They included the $12.4-million increase to police district taxes for Suffolk's five western towns -- an average of $27 more per household, the sale of federal tobacco settlement funds, tapping tax stabilization reserves and hiking bus fares and other fees. Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) and Tom Cilmi (R-Bay Shore) voted no.

Eighty-eight workers will lose their jobs by the first of the year, rather than the 710 Levy proposed. About 464 of the spared positions -- $13 million in salaries and benefits -- are only funded through June.

The same is true for the 221 workers at the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility, which Levy wanted to close and sell.

Levy said he will veto any budget with a tax increase, though only 12 legislative votes are necessary to override.

Legislators' six-month plan leaves it up to County Executive-elect Steve Bellone to find a way to fund the positions into 2013, through union concessions or other means, and develop a strategy for Foley, which is now planned for a downsizing in July.

"I think this is a document of leadership," said Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), who worked with GOP lawmakers to craft the response to Levy's $2.7-billion budget. "If we don't do something now, next year we'd be forced to lay off three times the amount of people with nothing to fall back on."

Still, a few other Republican legislators said if any reserve funds exist, layoffs or tax hikes shouldn't be considered. Even borrowing should be on the table, they said.

"What would you like me to do?" asked Barraga (R-West Islip), noting he and many colleagues ran on platforms of no tax increases. "One day after the election, come back and vote to raise taxes and initiate layoffs?"

A bipartisan legislative budget working group had said Levy's budget grossly underestimated expenses and overestimated revenues, leaving a $135 million hole, notwithstanding any of his layoffs. Legislators restored medical examiner positions and said the police tax will help fund an officer recruit class of 80 next year.

Levy, the outgoing Republican, has insisted his budget is balanced, and criticized the legislature's use of one-shot revenue sources to plug holes. "This legislative budget is the worst I've ever seen . . . Their actions are going to hurt our bond rating."

Cheryl Felice, president of the Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees, told legislators that her members "pledge to work together" with Bellone's administration to save jobs.

"We're pleased that budgets will no longer be an effort of hostage negotiations," she said of Levy using layoffs to force union health care contributions.

As for further tapping the $48.3 million tax stabilization reserves as some Republicans seek, Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket) said it wouldn't be prudent. The county would now use $10.6 million from the fund. "We can't drain the fund when we need the cash to make payroll."

The legislature also approved giving the county comptroller power to seek short-term revenue-anticipation notes, up to $80 million, if necessary, to meet employee payroll."We haven't had to do it in 20 years," said Comptroller Joseph Sawicki. "But cash is very tight right now."