Suffolk Coronavirus: County Faces 'Cataclysmic' $1.5B Budget Hole

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Along with a death toll countywide of almost 2,000, Suffolk faces what County Executive Steve Bellone has called a potentially "cataclysmic" $1.5 billion budget hole due to the pandemic.

During his last two press briefings, Bellone has discussed a report compiled by independent municipal and financial experts "who have laid out, in very stark detail, the financial emergency this county faces as a result of COVID-19." Over two-and-a-half years, Suffolk County faces a budget hole that could reach $1.5 billion, Bellone said, "a number that is far beyond anything this county has seen or experienced before. We are talking about Depression-level numbers here."

The impacts of coronavirus on the economy, Bellone said, have been "cataclysmic." To put the number in perspective, Bellone said the $1.5 billion is three times the deficit the current administration inherited coming out of the financial crisis of the last decade.

"This is a budget crisis greater than this county has every seen before," Bellone said.

There is no way the county can handle the issue alone without assistance from the federal government, Bellone said, adding that he sent the report to the entire congressional delegation so they can have a real understanding of what the county faces.

"This is a crisis far beyond anything we've ever faced," he said. "If there were ever a time when the local community needed their federal representatives to deliver for them, that moment is right now."

First responders, healthcare heroes, and taxpayers should not have to bear the weight, Bellone said. "The COVID-19 crisis is not a burden that should be borne by taxpayers here on the local level," he said, adding that police officers, nurses, 911 dispatchers and others who have stepped up in the time of crisis "shouldn't have to worry about whether we can meet payroll or not."

He added: "This is a declared national emergency, not a local event. Now is the time for the federal government to step in and say, 'We have your back.'"

On Wednesday, Bellone said he met with various union representatives to discuss the report, which details "at best," an $829 million budget hold and the potential $1.5 billion shortfall.

Outdoor dining coming soon

Bellone said the county has been working closely with various restaurant associations and local towns and villages to move forward with a plan for expedited permitting on the local level that would allow restaurants to utilize spaces that they might not have, before, for outdoor dining; those spaces include extended sidewalks, back lots, and other ideas. Businesses applying would receive automatic approval from the health department to facilitate outdoor dining and jump start the economy.

Bellone said he is hopeful that the outdoor dining could begin in Phase 2, at a maximum, one week a way, and could possibly be accelerated and able to happen sooner. "We stand ready in the county," he said. "We are ready to expedite those permits immediately."

Bellone thanked town and village officials as well as all of those in the restaurant industry who are ready to put safety protocols in place as outdoor dining is set to expand.

New way to report hate crimes

With protests continuing across Suffolk County over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, residents locally can now report hate crimes or bias incidents by calling 311.

"We want to be clear: Hate, bias, bigotry and discrimination have no safe haven in Suffolk County," Bellone said. "And now, more than ever, as the nation continues to mourn the horrid killing of George Floyd, we need to stand united."

Discrimination "has reared its ugly head" recently across Suffolk County, with a Newsday report last year outlining incidents of housing discrimination, Bellone said.

"We stand for good, fair, just and equitable government and we will continue to fight discrimination and root out hate at its core in Suffolk County," Bellone said.

He also thanked residents who protested peacefully as well as the Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon.

Coronavirus cases pass 40,000 mark

As of Wednesday, more than 40,000 people tested positive for coronavirus in Suffolk County; the total of 40,062 indicated an increase of 82, Bellone said.

In addition, 14,334 individuals tested positive for antibodies.

The number of hospitalizations declined by 11, for a total of 236 countywide; the number of patients in ICU beds also declined by six to 61. Hospital capacity stands at 3,126, with 1,145 beds available, or 63 percent. And there are 591 ICU beds in Suffolk County, with 282 available, or 52 percent, Bellone said.

A total of 11 patients went home over 24 hours. And six others lost their battle, for a total of 1,915 deaths countywide.