Nassau exec proposes 2023 budget with no tax increase, more cops

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Thursday proposed a $3.88 billion budget for 2023 that boosts county spending by $166 million, and adds 86 new positions, including for 36 sworn police officers.

The 2023 spending plan contains no property tax levy increase nor boosts or cuts to any of the county's steep fees.

The Republican filed his budget proposal for 2023 late Thursday. The county charter requires the county executive to propose a spending plan by Sept. 15 of each year.

Nassau is expected to spend $938 million on county salaries and benefits next year, $64.6 million more than it's expected to for total pay employee costs in 2022.

That's due in large part to new agreements with labor unions, including contracts to fund retroactive "longevity pay" agreements recognizing long-tenured county employees.

Blakeman on Thursday declined an interview request. In a statement, he touted the settlement of a labor dispute over back pay to workers, and of a major court case with the Long Island Power Authority.

He also criticized state bail reform laws that he said justified increases in head counts at the police department and district attorney’s office.

“I am proud to submit a no tax increase budget that bolsters public safety, and protects the fiscal stability of the county. In just 9 months, my administration has shown it will tackle head on, issues that were swept under the rug in the past including union longevity pay, and the LIPA tax certiorari case, which left unresolved could have forced taxpayers to pay hundreds of millions more in taxes,” Blakeman said in a statement.

Blakeman continued: “Further, as a result of the state’s dangerous Cashless Bail, Raise The Age, [a state law that increases the age of criminal responsibility to 18] and HALT policies, we have added additional law enforcement officers to help keep residents safe. I will continue to protect residents’ wallets, and make Nassau a more safe and affordable place to live.”

In referring to HALT, Blakeman referenced a 2021 state law ending long-term solitary confinement in state prisons and jails. In the past, correction officer unions criticized the measure as likely to make jails less safe.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a state control board that approves Nassau's finances, has final say on the final budget. The board can reject the spending plan or direct the county executive to modify it. 

Representatives for NIFA, Democratic legislators and Republican legislators declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

The legislature must approve the budget. Then it goes to NIFA. 

Last year, former County Executive Laura Curran introduced a $3.5 billion budget and cut the property tax levy of $825 million by $70 million.

Blakeman, in his successful campaign for the county’s top job, said the property tax levy should have been cut by $120 million.

Republican county legislators pitched Blakeman's tax cut plan, but Curran successfully vetoed that amendment.

Asked why he did not propose a property tax cut in 2022, Blakeman said he was budgeting conservatively due to high levels of inflation. 

"The reckless policies of the Biden administration have [led] /to rampant inflation that requires a cautious approach to forecasting the cost of goods and services, especially energy costs, moving forward," Blakeman said in a statement to Newsday.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.