Nassau exec mustn't sell county's future

In his Newsday opinion piece, "Pulling for the Nassau taxpayers" [Feb. 10], County Executive Edward Mangano took credit for repealing the unpopular home energy tax, and rightfully so. However, if he ends up paying for any portion of this tax cut by selling Nassau County's future stream of rental payments from the Mitchel Field leases to balance the budget, what has he really accomplished?

The $30 million that would come from this transaction is nothing more than a fancy financing mechanism that borrows from our children's future. A real tax cut occurs only when the other side of the ledger is reduced spending.

It is understood that Mr. Mangano did not create the current mess, but suing the Nassau Interim Finance Authority is counterproductive. Instead, Mr. Mangano should work with NIFA and use NIFA's threat to declare a fiscal emergency as the leverage that will help him negotiate the structural cuts necessary for the long-term fiscal health of Nassau County.

Mr. Mangano should refrain from one-shot transactions that damage our future and give a false impression that something is actually being accomplished.

Ray Xerri

Oceanside