WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. October 23, 2008: Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County Executive, and Chair o the Governor’s Commission on Property Tax Reform, told politicians and concerned businesspersons at the Ritz Carlton last night, a property tax cap and Circuit Breaker legislation, would only happen if citizens and businesspersons started a strong political movement to pressure the legislature.
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi addressing Westchester County Association Government Reception Wednesday evening at The Ritz-Carlton.
Suozzi was the featured speaker behind introductions of key politicians: Congresswoman Nita Lowey who said she welcomed any suggestions from the public on further measures to deal with the national financial crisis, Assemblyman Adam Bradley who promised the legislature was going back into session to address the state budget, , County Executive Andrew Spano, who described the present financial situation in the county and the state has one “I have not seen in my lifetime. Spano, borrowing White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino’s philosophy, said heartfully, “Let’s keep together and let’s work together. We’re all family, we all need to work through this together as a family.”
Suozzi hammered home to an audience who was unusually impolite, continuing to buzz with conversation while Mr. Suozzi was speaking. At one point, Suozzi said the audience could continue their conversations in a few moments and asked them to “pay attention” and, describing the problem with mandates and how they get enacted, because new mandates are described to legislators as good ideas. Mr. Suozzi said “you can’t do every good idea.”
Suozzi suggested it was unrealistic to expect tax reform without a groundswell of public demand for it, saying, “1. We’ve gotten “incredible pushback” from school districts and teachers union. 2. You have to change laws we have. 3. You will not get mandate reform because there are too many special interests. The only way is to enact a tax cap and circuit breaker.”
WPCNR caught up with County Legislator Bill Ryan after the talk and asked him what could be expected on the County Budget, now under construction. Ryan said he had submitted a budget for the Board of Legislators 1.4% above this year’s budget. He said he was hopeful the county could bring in a budget taking into account inflation of about 1.4% above 2008. (Last year, the county budget rose 3.9%)
Ryan said he had met with Governor David Patterson and representatives of the New York Conference of Mayors Monday in New York, at the request of the Governor, who wanted their input on how Patterson might cut the state budget so as not to stress the counties.
Ryan said he told the governor the best way to cut the budget was not to cut mandate funding, because would force the county to raise taxes to fund the mandates shifting the burden for the mandates. Ryan instead suggested state cuts be made in state aid on discretionary services. “This way,” Ryan told me, “the county can pick and choose where to allocate our money.”
Westchester County Association’s Bill Mooney, far left, and Alfred Del Bello, far right, flank the County Executives, Andrew Spano, second from left, and Thomas Suozzi.
Observations:
Suozzi was going to take questions, but ended his talk, it appeared due to lack of respect from the audience. This reporter was embarrassed the way Mr. Suozzi’s talk was paid attention to by the audience of persons who should know better. Mr. Suozzi is a guest of Westchester County. At least a third of the persons continued talking and drinking during Suozzi’s talk.