Suozzi fluff piece not what he hoped; last line confirms: Tax hike next year imminent

My friends: It has begun. Newsday's assault on Democracy, complete with Puff articles, puff Columns, and Hit piece Editorials, all hit in one burst today.

But, you, the readers and viewers, are smarter than to believe it. Nonetheless, I was surprised at the timing and intensity of the Newsday Democracy assault today. Anyone wonder why it's all happening so soon? And So well coordinated?

Well, folks, the answer is simple: Greg Peterson has gained significant ground in the polls. Suozzi has lost ground. This is something which I know for a fact. In addition, the race for Nassau Comptroller is a dead-heat, with Challenger Donald Clavin within striking range of Howie Weitzman. Denis Dillon is expected to win re-election comfortably. Assemb. Maureen O'Connell is in good shape to succeed Karen Murphy as Nassau County Clerk.

So, when you put all this together, Newsday is getting uncomfortable out there. They dont want to see their pretty man Tom suozzi take too many hits in the campaign. He is already under heavy fire from the Nassau PBA for his abysmal record on Law enforcement issues, with the PBA committing its war chest of well over 4 million dollars to the defeat of Tom Suozzi and the election of Greg Peterson.

So, with all this put together, we find ourselves here today. Let us commence with the dispatching of this Newsday liberal bilge.

Suozzi touts fiscal fitness

As his first term comes to an end, a Newsday review of Suozzi's four budgets and interviews with fiscal analysts showed that the reality of the county executive's financial record lay somewhere in between -- a combination of new taxes, sound management, creative initiatives, outside help and fiscal good fortune.Nassau has run surpluses as its budget has grown from
$2.2 billion to $2.4 billion over four years under Suozzi.

The county has won repeated upgrades from Wall Street bond rating agencies, moving from one step above junk status to a level that is about average for counties across the state.

Newsday here has just conceded that Tom Suozzi is no fiscal conservative! He is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars more than his predecessor did!

The one-time property hike was an important element of Nassau's comeback, raising an additional $120 million a year. Suozzi benefited rom a healthy economy, which drove sales tax revenues up nearly 16 percent -- or $135 million -- over his tenure.

The state, through NIFA, the watchdog board, has injected $300 million to $400 million into Nassau through cash subsidies and financing deals since 2000.

On his own, Suozzi used workforce trims and labor concessions to slow the growth of salaries, saving an estimated $40 million in 2005. He cut county debt service, with NIFA's aid, by $70 million a year.

He professionalized the county budget office and upset
never anticipated that he would turn around and bill the agency $15 million a year for county services. He spearheaded a campaign for the state to set a cap on local Medicaid costs, saving Nassau $25 million next year.

So, if we were to put into percentage terms the Suozzi impact on NAssau's finances, versus external impact on nassau's finances, here are the figures:

External: 485 Million: 76 Percent
Suozzi: 150 Million: 24 percent

That just took me a total of 2 minutes to do on my Windows XP Calculator.

And, now, folks, for all you over taxed Nassau residents out there: here is the kicker: I guess the Editor must've missed this part:

The county in 2006 is hoping to reduce its crushing tax refund burden to $65 million, down from up to $200 million this year. Nassau's future deficits are projected to reach $272 million by 2009.

If he wins, Suozzi's plan would raise property taxes again starting next year. "We went from drowning to where we have our heads above water," Suozzi said. "I want to go on to dry land."

In 2005, let's take Tom suozzi and his team of tax hiking, Over developing, urbanizing liberals, and put there political fortunes deep in the ocean.