Lesko Proposes Spending Cuts, Exit Incentive

At a press rountable in his office at Brookhaven Town Hall, Supervisor Mark Lesko spoke of his new capital spending cuts and exit incentive for management and white collar union employees Tuesday afternoon.

The plan would close a potential $19 million budget gap in 2011 by nearly $8 million.

Lesko is also supporting delaying $6.3 million worth of capital projects this year to "protect tax payers." As a result of delaying certain capital projects, the town will save roughly $1.5 million in debt service in the general fund in 2010, 2011 and 2012. 

Lesko said the $6.3 million in cuts came about because "we've scrubbed through capital project accounts and found little pools of old money. We're using that money to repay the debt on various bonds."

As for the issue of recovery zone bonds, which have been an issue over the last few months, Lesko is proposing to use $10.8 million of the undesignated bonds to put forth massive road work and sidewalk construction improvements. 

"The fastest way to push the stimulus money out into the economy is to work on our roads and work on our sidewalks," he said.

The proposed exit incentive will be offered to employees who have worked for the Town for a minimum of five years. According to the Supervisor, if 30 employees take the incentive, it will result in $2 million in savings in the general fund for 2010 and 2011. 

Lesko has put forth a five-point fiscal plan, which includes 1) increasing landfill revenues, 2) working with Cablevision to restructure the Town's payment schedule, 3) working with CSEA partners to creatively save money, 4) re-prioritizing the capital budget and delaying unnecessary projects and 5) implementing efficiency and revenue team projects.

Lesko warned that if the Town does not act on this fiscal plan, then it will be forced to violate the rainy-day policy and use an extra $19 million of the surplus to balance the 2011 budget.