Nassau's moment to stop red ink

After a short interruption to deal with a natural disaster, Nassau County still confronts the ominous threat of a man-made one: living beyond its means. Unlike Tropical Storm Irene, which didn't deliver a ruinous direct hit, the county won't get lucky again. The ever-widening hole in its 2012 budget -- now at $310 million -- is sure to bring devastating consequences soon.

County Executive Edward Mangano, who was decisive and forceful when it came to confronting Irene, now seems ready to face this frightening economic reality. His refusal to do so earlier this year prompted the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the state watchdog, to take fiscal control of the county. Mangano and his team responded to that measure with legal and verbal sparring that accomplished little toward drafting a realistic long-term financial plan.

Now, a cease-fire is in place. But with less than four months before the new year begins and just one week before the budget must be sent to the legislature, the county executive is finally turning up the pressure to extract concessions from Nassau's police and civil service unions.

On Tuesday, Mangano demanded $115 million in savings, which would close about one-third of the current gap. He is adamant about not raising property taxes, and even if he weren't, the new statewide property tax cap, combined with disappointing sales tax revenue and a rise in pension contributions, would necessitate layoffs and service cuts.

Mangano is using big numbers to depict the scope of the hole. He would cut the workforce by 10 percent, which means eliminating 800 jobs. Since the police unions have a no-layoff clause in their contracts, the Civil Service Employee Association would likely bare the brunt of the cuts. That means a reduction in workers who take care of parks and roadways, as well as fewer social service caseworkers at a time when demand for county services is growing.

But Mangano said the workers could be spared if his department heads can cut spending by 15 percent and the unions agree to givebacks. The unions, especially the generously paid police, should step up and do so. They haven't said no, but their reluctance to make concessions unless there is finality to the givebacks, such as a comprehensive restructuring plan with NIFA's blessing, seems unshakable. The Police Benevolent Association is quick to remind everyone that it has made concessions of $50 million a year for the past three years.

That's why all the county's unions, whose 2011 wages have been frozen by NIFA, suspect that even before the ink dries on any deal, Mangano will come back asking for more. They want the finality that only comes from the NIFA law, which assures the unions that they will be required to make only one set of concessions.

Meanwhile, NIFA is expected to release, any day now, its own recommendations on how to close the deficit. Mangano's administrative staff shouldn't be spared. But the big bucks are in the union contracts and NIFA, so far, has refused to deal directly with them. With time running out, the need for a grand bargain gains urgency.

As emergency responders know from disasters, that won't happen without communication and cooperation.