As Nassau County continues through a historic crisis, County Executive Laura Curran gave a comprehensive COVID-19 State of the County address. In her address, streamed live on News 12 Long Island and Facebook, available here, she discussed the steps Nassau has taken to keep residents safe during this unprecedented pandemic, as well as the County’s recovery initiatives and commitments moving forward.
“In this uncharted territory, Nassau County led the way – we followed the data and listened to the experts and with the help of all Nassau’s residents, we successfully controlled the spread of the virus. This wasn’t easy, and it’s come at a high cost. We now find ourselves in an extraordinary situation with mounting challenges,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “Tonight, I am announcing my key commitments for the future: We will maintain fiscal responsibility, we will not raise property taxes, and we will ensure our law enforcement and first responders have the resources they need to keep us safe. I will work with our business, community and education leaders, and we will recalibrate, we will recover, and Nassau County will emerge stronger than ever.”
The COVID-19 Response
In her address, the County Executive highlighted the County’s frontline operations and thanked Nassau’s first responders, including the police, medics and fire service and essential workers for their tremendous efforts and ability to adapt. The County Executive also recognized several first responders and unsung heroes throughout the community who stepped up to help during this unprecedented battle, including healthcare workers, transit workers, volunteers making masks, grocery store workers and many others.
A few of the County’s ongoing and key response efforts include:
- Activating the County’s medical reserve corps of more 1,000 volunteers to help track and contain the virus as it arrived in Nassau County.
- Centralized Fire Communications and 911 operations to increase the efficiency of responses.
- Sourcing and distributing vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to first responders, healthcare workers, nursing homes and other essential employees and vulnerable populations.
- Pursuing an evidence-based approach to shut down schools with the support of the Governor.
- Partnering with Nassau BOCES and School Districts to provide grab-and-go meals to kids who are no longer able to get them at school.
- Partnering with community health clinics to scale-up viral testing in our hardest hit minority areas.
- Funding necessary food distribution through Island Harvest and Island Cares.
- Partnering with Meals on Wheels and Catholic charities to help feed seniors isolated at home and modified the County’s VetMart to provide deliveries and a drive-by food pantry for veterans.
- Meeting virtually with the County’s Economic Advisory Council to track the losses of Nassau’s business community and much more.
Addressing Impact on County Finances – Previously Balanced Budget Now in Deficit
Nassau County had previously expected a balanced budget this fiscal year ending on December 31, 2020. In light of the pandemic, the County is now forecasting a decline in their 2020 revenues of more than $300 million, including a drop of 10% in sales tax collections. These revenues pay the salaries and wages of first responders, law enforcement, and other essential employees, as well as for the maintenance of County roads, bridges, and parks. Such a drastic revenue decline in such a short period of time is devastating to the County’s budget.
Stabilizing Finances & Recouping Losses
In addition to assembling all existing resources available, the County Executive has taken action to help stabilize the County’s fiscal condition, including:
- ordering a freeze on hiring and non-essential purchases, as well as a review of all service contracts,
- directing each department to develop spending reduction plans in their workstreams,
pressing congressional representatives to pass revenue recovery measures for state and local - governments and to pass an economic stimulus bill for infrastructure building,
- and working on the Governor’s “Reimagine New York” Task Force to restart the region’s economy.
“I want to make clear that as our County employees have stood by us in this difficult time, I will now stand by them. Our team has done an incredible job of responding to this crisis, and we will continue to have their back”, said Curran. “We will do all we can to bounce back, but we need state and federal support to replace lost revenue. I will continue to do all in my power to advocate for robust recovery aid, and I won’t rest until Nassau County gets the federal funds we need.”
