Suffolk County lawmakers are concerned they won’t have enough time to debate the 2021 budget.
County Executive Steve Bellone missed his self-imposed deadline on Friday to submit the next budget. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the budget in November.
The county faces a $320 million budget deficit. Republican Legislator Rob Trotta said the county was in bad shape before the pandemic.
“We shouldn’t be bailing out mismanagement. Period. People are hurting here. And his prior acts, his prior acts have put us in this position today. This isn’t about [coronavirus]. It’s about mismanagement. It’s about overspending,” Trotta said.
Bellone has urged Congress to send more federal coronavirus relief to help prevent massive cuts to county services and potential layoffs.
Nearly $100 million in borrowing is also stalled without a proposed budget.
