Economic Issues Top Concerns For Local County Legislators

With the Suffolk County Legislature back to work for 2011, lawmakers will again be facing a number of important issues ranging from budgeting to taxes and job creation, which will have an impact on all residents of the county, including those living in the Dix Hills community.

Patch spoke with Sufolk legislators Lou D'Amaro and Steve Stern to get their thoughts on some key issues the 18-member legislative body will look to tackle in the year ahead.

Patch: What is the biggest issue(s) facing the county in 2011?

D'Amaro: In the face of rising costs and declining revenues, the biggest issue in Suffolk this year will be the ability to keep our budget balanced without placing a financial burden on county taxpayers. The county’s pension bill alone will increase to almost $90 million in 2011 and will grow substantially higher in the ensuing years. The legislature and county executive will be tasked with solving our budget shortfall in a cooperative manner to ensure that we continue to hold the line on county taxes for our residents.

Stern: I believe that the biggest issues facing Suffolk County in 2011 will be continuing budgetary concerns, economic development, job security and growth and the fate of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility.

Patch: With the county reliant on sales tax receipts, what is being done to offset the possible slow growth of revenue in 2011?

D'Amaro: Sales tax accounts for more than $1 billion in the county’s $2.7 billion operating budget. I do not support shifting the tax burden to a smaller tax base (such as real property taxes) to decrease the county’s reliance on sales tax.  Accordingly, it is imperative that every level of government take steps to enhance sales tax collection by stimulating the local economy and creating jobs. In 2011, the county must continue its proactive approach to economic development by luring high-paying companies such as Canon to the area and supporting small business-incubators that help defer start-up costs for local proprietors.  The county recently funded one of these incubators in the Town of Huntington. 

Stern: It is a concern that the vast majority of the county’s revenue is dependent upon sales tax, which is down significantly and is a reflection of the ongoing economic downturn.  This decrease in revenue was factored into the legislature’s budget deliberations and a conservative estimate of projected sales tax revenue for 2011 was used to ensure that the adopted budget would be balanced and realistic.  It is my hope that both federal and state initiatives to spur economic growth will take hold in 2011 and that the overall economy will continue to improve.  One way that our community can help increase our sales tax revenue in this new year is to think and act locally and support our neighborhood businesses, including our downtowns in Huntington and Greenlawn.  Working with local merchants in Greenlawn, we have helped to develop a local Chamber of Commerce and we participate in the Huntington Chamber’s “Shop Locally” program, to help  increase business in our downtown areas. 

Patch:  What is happening at the county level that is directly impacting the Dix Hills area?

D'Amaro: More than 200 new police recruits will hit the streets of Suffolk County in 2011.  I will do everything possible to ensure that the Second Precinct, which covers Dix Hills, receives its fair share of new officers so that neighborhood safety and community quality of life are maintained.

Stern: I have worked hard to improve our infrastructure in the Dix Hills area, specifically the Commack Road corridor.  Major improvements to Commack Road were implemented by the county and funded by federal stimulus money that I fought hard to secure.  Recently, work was completed at the interchange of Commack Road and the Long Island Expressway, including the creation of “stacking lanes” to line up vehicles in order to move traffic through more quickly and movement of sidewalks to the outside of the bridge supports to widen the lanes and improve the turn ratio for larger vehicles.  These improvements will have a significant beneficial impact for Dix Hills area residents.

Patch: What issues are you hearing about from your constituents?

D'Amaro: Constituent service is the most important part of an elected officials’ job.  My office routinely receives calls from local residents on any number of issues. Whether it is an elderly individual who needs emergency heating or a mother who is concerned about mosquito spraying, my staff and I always listen and take immediate steps to assist. In some cases, constituent calls even lead to new laws.  Thanks to that concerned mother, I drafted and passed a new bill requiring automated phone notifications to all households located in the vicinity of scheduled county mosquito spraying.

Stern: Many of my neighbors have contacted me with their concerns about taxes and the cost of government.  With all that we have been hearing about in terms of federal deficits and dysfunction in Albany, I am proud to report that the Suffolk County Legislature recently passed the 2011 Operating Budget and that for the sixth straight year, there is no increase in County General Fund Property Tax.  Just as important, this balanced budget provides for the hiring of additional police, secures funding for essential county services and still maintains Suffolk’s highest bond rating in our history.  No other county in New York State, or other level of government has been able to provide this exceptional level of fiscal responsibility and protect our taxpayers during this challenging time.  It is a record that I’m very proud of.

Patch: This year County Executive Steve Levy and all members of the legislature will be running for re-election. How do you get beyond the politics and continue the work of the legislature?

D'Amaro: Government cannot cease to function simply because an election is around the corner. The Suffolk County Legislature has a history of sticking to policy instead of politics. It is one of the prime reasons we have successfully held the line on taxes every year of my tenure. As always, I will continue to promote sound bipartisan proposals such as when I reached across party lines to co-sponsor the county’s recently enacted gas tax cap spearheaded by my Republican colleague, Tom Muratore.

Stern: Party politics is not very important at the county level of government.  I have always worked to form relationships and coalitions across party lines to work cooperatively and  to ensure that we can get things done.  I will continue to work with the County Executive regardless of his party affiliation and will continue to work with all of my colleagues to represent the best interests of the Dix Hills community and all of Suffolk County.

Patch: Is there an issue(s) that you'd like the county to tackle this year?

D'Amaro: I hope this is the year the legislature finally enacts the kind of much needed budget reforms that I have been championing since I first took office.  These reforms include voting line by line on all county spending items in full public view. Transparency in budgeting leads to accountability, which, in turn, leads to responsible spending practices. When legislators are held accountable, it forces a closer examination of their fiscal priorities. Reforms such as this would reduce waste and promote efficiency and I will continue to vociferously advocate for their adoption.

Stern: I will  continue my efforts to encourage economic growth, by fostering opportunities and  removing barriers and red tape, especially for our small local businesses and to ensure a balance between economic growth and protecting our environment and our quality of life.  As always, I most look forward to hearing from our community and speaking with my neighbors about their concerns, listening to their ideas and providing responsive and accessible constituent services.  I encourage residents  to contact my office at (631) 854-5100 or to email me at steve.stern@suffolkcountyny.gov.