Lindsay: Solving Suffolk Fiscal Crisis Will Be Painful

Like many other officials across Suffolk, was disturbed to hear that the County was facing a three-year deficit of $530 million, according to his spokesman Michael Pitcher.

But while the numbers may be daunting, Pitcher said Lindsay, the legislature’s presiding officer, feels there is time to develop solutions to overcome the deficit.

“The bulk of this is in two years,” he noted. “That gives us time to fix this. But there will be some painful decisions, but ones that must be made.”

Last week, a Blue Ribbon Panel convened by County Executive Steve Bellone issued a report stating that the county was facing a budget deficit of $530 million over the next three years. He immediately declared a fiscal emergency allowing him to immediately embargo up to 10 percent of funds in each County department’s budget.

With Bellone expected this week to put forward a series of recommendations in response to Suffolk’s fiscal crisis, Pitcher said the legislature is also now convening its bi-partisan budget review panel — normally done in the fall during the budget process — to address the issue.

Pitcher said it’s too early to discuss what specific solutions could be developed to close the deficit. He did say that the issue of pension reform now being discussed by state lawmakers in Albany could go a long way in help the County close its deficit.

“Mr. Lindsay has always been in favor of pension reform,” he said.

One area Pitcher believes County lawmakers would not discuss is the option of raising Suffolk’s portion of property tax bills. He noted that with the two percent tax cap in place, the County would only be able to raise only $1 million if it choose to hike property taxes.

“This would not be a solution to our problem,” he said.