While Ray Keating’s criticism of County Executive Edward Mangano rings true, he fails to provide any context regarding the severity of budget deficits facing Nassau County over the next five years (“Business as Usual,” PostOpinion, June 16).
After former Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi supported a $400 million arbitration award, he then had to request that the CSEA forgo the first two years of pay raises. In exchange, Suozzi gave the CSEA the assurance there would be no layoffs.
The popular budget estimate for 2011 being used in Nassau County reflects a deficit of $286 million, but that is understated.
In 2011, Mangano and Nassau County now inherit a budget deficit of $466 million, largely from Suozzi, with no ability to lay off union county employees unless the Nassau Interim Finance Authority takes over Nassau County.
Michael P. Mulhall
Rockville Centre