Levy right to defend hiring powers

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and four former county executives are correct about keeping costly hiring powers with the county executive ["Only one official balances the budget," Opinion, Dec. 2].

With property taxes the highest in the nation, the county executive's responsibilities should be expanded to include the schools and other taxing districts. There should be one superintendent in both counties who meets with the county executive to discuss spending and hiring. The county executive should also negotiate teacher salaries - school boards have not done a good job.

Sanitation and other taxing districts should be consolidated, and there should also be one commissioner for that entity. To fill any of these positions, there should be a test, with an associated fee, to create revenue for the county.

Isn't it time for taxpayers to have someone controlling and looking after all of our tax-dollar spending services? It works for the police, why can't it work for the rest? Do people understand the word control?

Local control is nothing more than a tool for patronage feeding and has done nothing to control spending and taxes. Isn't it time for taxpayers to know exactly who is in charge of all our tax dollars and have that buck stopped at someone's desk?

We have too many chiefs here on Long Island.

Patrick Nicolosi, Elmont

I want to go on record supporting the viewpoints expressed in the county executives' opinion piece. I would caution the Suffolk County Legislature that to strip away such control would have a negative effect on those of us who pay taxes here in Suffolk County.

This essay was written by four Republicans and a Democrat, so it is bipartisan. The previous county executives have nothing to gain.

The Suffolk County executive should have the final word when it comes to controlling and managing cash flow. I hope that those legislators who are supporting a charter change that would give this authority to other countywide elected officials are not doing it to punish Steve Levy, who changed parties to become a Republican.

The buck should stop with the county executive.

Michael Carl Tanner, Bohemia