Curran Proposes County Budget With $70 Million Tax Cut

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced today that her 2022 budget proposal includes $70 million in tax cuts for Nassau County residents, and a total of $150 million in tax cuts over the next four years.

In addition to tax cuts, the budget also includes millions of dollars in new spending for public safety, including the hiring of new police officers and corrections officers, Curran said.

"Three years of strategic fiscal discipline has paid off, and county finances are now in the strongest position in decades," Curran said.

"With this tax cut, I am proud to put money back into the pockets of Nassau County's homeowners as we continue to revive our local economy and recover from the pandemic," she added.

According to Curran, the tax cut would save homeowners with a home valued at $500,000 around $140 dollars on their county tax bill.

Curran, who is up for reelection this year, cited her administration's strong fiscal leadership with the reason the county is able to provide a tax cut. She said that when she took office in 2018, she inherited a fiscal mess, with the county having an annual deficit of $120 million in 2017. She said the county then ended 2019 with a budget surplus.

The proposed 2022 budget is balanced, Curran said, despite the tax cuts and new spending.

Curran's plan also calls for $45 million in new spending for public safety. That includes hiring 70 new officers in the police department, sheriff's office, probation and more. It also includes the Nassau County Police Department's new body camera program.

To expand its pool of officer candidates, Curran said the county will be holding two police officer exams and two correction officer exams in the coming months. It would be the county's first expansion of its uniformed police force since 2009.

"As county executive, keeping Nassau residents safe will always be my highest priority," said Curran. "In this proposed budget, I am also proud to increase our investment in the future of our dedicated law enforcement, and to ensure they have the resources and training to perform their work at the highest level, to continue to work at the highest level."

Curran's spending plan would also settle the county's debt with the state pension system. The county owes the pension system $195 million from deferred payments made under Ed Mangano. Curran proposes paying off $155 million in 2022 and $40 million the following year.

From Chris Boyle, spokesman first the Republican Majority: "After the county executive raised taxes by millions of dollars in last year's budget and oversaw a botched reassessment, resulting in tax increases for 65 percent of property owners, Majority Legislators have taken the lead on providing tax relief," said Chris Boyle, spokesman for the Legislature Republicans. "Majority Legislators proposed rolling back almost $100 million in government fees yesterday, and they invite the county executive to join them in helping taxpayers. At the same time, legislators are eager to consider all proposals that are focused on reducing taxes in the best interest of Nassau taxpayers."

When asked about the Republican plan in the Legislature to do away with $100 million in county fees in her budget, Curran did not seem warm to the proposal. She said it was the Republican-controlled Legislature that first enacted the fees, and that it seemed "curious" that they wanted to do away with them right before an election.

"We have built a strong foundation over the past three years, and we want to build on this foundation," said Curran. "This is a very holistic, years-long approach to cleaning up messes of the past and making sure we're in the best position possible so we can handle whatever comes our way."