Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos (R-Great Neck) and former county Comptroller Howard Weitzman (D-North Hills) sparred over their financial records last week in a League of Women Voters Debate ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
The wonky nature of the topic, centered around questions about debt levels, tax certiorari liabilities and accounting standards, was further complicated by each candidates’ use of widely differing numbers in their arguments.
“Tonight you will hear Mr. Maragos speak as if he lives in alternative universe,” Weitzman said in his opening statement. “He’s attempting to run away from his record but every outside financial source confirms the county’s financial condition deteriorated under his watch.”
Among those outside sourced cited by Weitzman were figures from the Nassau Interim Finance Authority – the state agency that took control over Nassau’s finances in 2011 after projected deficits exceeded state limits. NIFA has consistently found deficits and outstanding liabilities, while the county’s audited financial statements project surpluses and more positive outlook.
Maragos, who has described NIFA director George Marlin’s harsh criticisms of the county’s finances as politically motivated, said the county had run a $41 million surplus in 2012 and was projecting at $5.6 million surplus in 2013.
“Their numbers are wrong,” Maragos said, arguing that NIFA’s accounting methods judge the county more harshly than other governments. “If we even look from the point of view of the NIFA presentation, under the previous administration in their last year, Suozzi would have had a $250 million deficit under NIFA.”
At the core of the dispute are the differing accounting standards used by Maragos and NIFA in calculating surpluses and deficits. The county’s surplus is based on budgetary accounting, which is done on a cash basis and includes non-recurring revenues, like the sale of county property. GAAP accounting, used by NIFA, also counts pending liabilities om the negative side of the ledger, like the county’s hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid tax refunds.
Maragos touted the administration’s refusal to hike the county property tax levy as a benefit to economic growth.
“Because we have maintained or held the line on property taxes, we have sent a strong message to the business community that Nassau County is business friendly,” Maragos said.
And Weitzman echoed a criticism floated by ticketmate Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), saying that the county’s policy of settling almost all residential tax grievances had led to increased school taxes for residents who did not challenge their assessments.
“What they never said was who was paying for that money,” Weitzman said. “It was not the fault of the administrators, it was not the fault of the superintendents who were working under a state-mandated tax cap.”
Maragos also endorsed the consolidation of school district administrations, criticizing what he described as superintendents’ $500,000 salaries as wasteful spending.
“I believe we need to consolidate some of the superintendents that we have,” Maragos said.
And though much of the debate featured sharp criticisms and accusations of dishonesty, League of Women Voters moderator Lisa Scott ensured at least one positive moment, pressing both candidates to give an example of a decision they admired from their opponents’ term in office.
After some initial reluctance, Weitzman praised Maragos for critiquing County Executive Edward Mangano’s (R-Bethpage) plan to borrow additional funds to pay tax refunds. And Maragos commended the quality and professionalism of the staff hired under Weitzman, saying he had not fired a single civil servant he inherited from Weitzman’s administration.
