Suffolk County was in “significant financial stress” before the extra burdens brought on by the pandemic, according to a report from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Suffolk and Westchester Counties received the highest designation of “significant stress” for their 2019 finances.
Nassau County improved. It’s been downgraded to “susceptible to fiscal stress.”
DiNapoli expects more local governments will be pushed into the red by the pandemic without additional coronavirus relief from Congress.
The report comes just days before Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is expected to release his preliminary budget for next year. Bellone has warned of massive cuts to public health and safety programs due to the pandemic. Republicans say those budget problems existed before the virus.
