A mountainous budget deficit has been eating up vast amounts of his staff's time, but Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is not letting short-term budget woes keep him from thinking big and long-term. He needs to do both. His Connect Long Island outline of the way the county will go about economic development has a good core approach and a couple of innovative ideas. But the budget reality won't go away, and Bellone will have to make even...read more ››
News Roundup
County Executive Bellone was joined by legislators and the Long Island Contractors Association (LICA) at the signing of the approval for $32 million in capital projects to be commenced in Suffolk County in 2012.
The sixteen projects, inclusive of four emergency bridge repairs, serve to improve Suffolk County’s infrastructure and are expected to create more than 300 jobs within the next year.
The projects include repairs and...read more ››
The Suffolk Legislature, responding to growing public pressure, last night voted to impose a share of health insurance costs on nearly 500 political appointees -- part of an opening salvo to pressure county unions to agree to a similar concessions.
"It's a good day for Suffolk County taxpayers," County Executive Steve Bellone said after the vote. "It's important to show we are leading by example . . . and we're not expecting any one...read more ››
HAUPPAUGE — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was frank when he delivered his first State of the County address Wednesday evening. Bellone said Suffolk County was dealing with the greatest fiscal crisis in its history, facing a budget gap of more than $500 million. Having undertaken multiple cost-saving measures already, Bellone explained the county is authorized to borrow $90 million in a revenue anticipation note and that he and his...read more ››
After postponing his first State of the County address when his wife gave birth, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has set a new date for the speech.
Bellone will give the State of the County address Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. from the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge. The speech will be broadcast live on News 12. Long Island Business News will also cover the speech.read more ››
Spending for construction and other capital projects would decline by 21 percent next year under a budget proposed Tuesday by County Executive Steve Bellone.
Unveiling his three-year capital program, Bellone said roads and bridges still would be rehabbed and public safety vehicles replaced, but that the county's fiscal crisis requires a "leaner" plan than lawmakers have approved in recent years.
(MORE AT LINK TO ORIGINAL...read more ››
County Executive Steve Bellone announced Tuesday afternoon that the brush fires in Suffolk have been largely contained. Both Bellone and Governor Andrew Cuomo thanked firefighters for their efforts in battling the blaze, which they said could have been “a lot worse.” The Governor also declared a state of emergency for Suffolk County in order to put it in a position to receive financial assistance.read more ››
HAUPPAUGE — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone unveiled a new online permit process to allow residents, businesses, developers and engineers to track the progress of building improvement permits on the web. The system is called the Submission and Status Terminal. The system will link users with the Departments of Health and Public Works.read more ››
Suffolk County Executive-Elect Steve Bellone's comments on Governor Cuomo's agreement with the State Legislature on his economic stimulus plan and middle class taxpayer relief:
"Governor Cuomo's jobs plan recognizes that the best approach for state and local governments to balance their budgets is through economic growth. By providing relief to middle class taxpayers, the plan will help businesses large and small here in Suffolk County...read more ››
Suffolk County Executive-elect Steve Bellone sat scribbling notes in a legal pad yesterday morning in a Cooperative Extension meeting room on Griffing Avenue, as he listened to two dozen farmers and fishermen talk about what's important to sustain the East End's oldest industries.
"I believe the East End is critically important for our regional economy, that it is an extraordinary and special place in our county and in our region,"...read more ››