Saying the County should be proactive in efforts to protect County finances in the face of a slowing economy and soaring mandated costs, Suffolk County Executive Robert J. Gaffney and leaders of the Suffolk Legislature today vowed to work together to hammer out a plan to close a budget gap that could reach as much as $250 million by 2004.

Appearing at a press conference in Hauppauge, Presiding Officer Maxine Postal (D-Amityville), Deputy Presiding Officer Joseph Caracappa (R-Selden) and County Comptroller Joseph Sawicki, Jr., expressed support for Gaffney's call for a Budget Deficit Action Plan.

"Eleven years ago, Suffolk County government worked its way through a difficult financial crisis because the County Executive and Legislature worked together, and were not afraid to make tough decisions," said Gaffney. "The leadership being shown here today is an important first step. Now we need to get on with the hard work of solving the problem."

"The Legislature recognizes the severity of the County's fiscal situation," said Presiding Officer Postal. "We are committed to working with County Executive Gaffney to address this crisis. This will not be easy. Difficult decisions will have to be made. We must rise to the challenge and come out of this unified and fiscally sound," she remarked.

Like counties across the State, Suffolk is being hammered by increases totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in payments it must make to the State for Medicaid, and to the State Pension Fund. New York is one of only two states in the nation that requires counties to foot half of the state's Medicaid expenses. In addition, actions proposed to address the State's own budget gap could shift more than $40 million in costs on to County taxpayers over the next two years.

In February, the County Executive formally called for the Legislature to join with him in a proactive approach by developing a Budget Deficit Action Plan. He reiterated that call in his State of the County Address last week.

Gaffney, Postal and Caracappa announced that they have begun discussions aimed at developing an overall plan that will likely include both short-term and long-term actions to increase revenues, and reduce expenditures. Postal and Caracappa said they intend to involve other legislators by soliciting ideas and suggestions for consideration in developing the plan, which they hope to complete within four weeks. They declined to discuss specifics until the process is completed.

"In some ways, dealing with a budget crisis is like dealing with a serious illness," said Gaffney. "While the challenge is real, the good news is that we have moved past the ‘denial' stage to ‘acceptance', and will now begin developing the ‘treatment' necessary to protect county government and the taxpayers it serves. The fact that both branches of government are committed to this process sends a strong positive signal to Wall Street rating agencies that the County will be proactive in protecting its financial future."

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