Letter: Nassau costs in the crosshairs

It is welcome news that "everything is on the table" as the Nassau County executive grapples with the expected budgetary shortfall in Nassau County .

Specifically cited in the news report were "tens of millions of dollars in union wage and benefit increases set for next year." However, it should be understood that these budget items are only a portion of the "employee compensation" budget pie. Decisions on budget cuts should aim at the salaries of all individuals who work for Nassau County -- exempt and nonexempt employees -- from all levels, including supervisors, department heads, commissioners, and other executive-level employees. Let everyone share in bearing the pain of whatever budgetary cuts are deemed necessary in these troubled times. It is simply not fair to focus solely on one segment of the Nassau County workforce.

Jerome Marullo, Massapequa

I am retired, but as a private businessman for 40 years, I worked 40 to 60 hours a week. As a salesman, I was never on a salary and did not receive regular raises. I got two weeks vacation a year. I was responsible for my own health insurance. I did not complain. Instead of a pension, I have a self-funded individual retirement account.

I read that Nassau County union workers are expecting $72 million more in pension funding and health insurance costs, and $43 million more in salary increases on top of overtime pay, 4 to 8 weeks vacation and in some cases work 30 to 40 hours a week.

Are they nuts? And are we nuts for allowing that? What makes union workers feel so special that they can demand pensions for life, step increases, no-cost or low-cost health insurance, and all the other benefits that result from rampant abuse of the system? We need a moratorium on any increases that put our budget further into a hole. Haven't we learned recently that we cannot spend money that we don't have?

Taxpayers are at their limit. If you agree, write to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which has the responsibility to monitor and oversee Nassau's finances. After all, NIFA does stand for No Increases For Anyone!

Steve Haar, Bayville