County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined up with his counterparts from Nassau and Suffolk today to discuss regional issues and press the state for relief from unfunded mandates.

These mandates are a major factor in Westchester County's projected $166 million deficit for 2011.

The meeting took place in Mineola, at the offices of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who like Astorino took office January 1. Also attending was Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

"Today is about building a coalition of the overtaxed to send a message to Albany that we need immediate relief from unfunded mandates and out- of-control pension costs," said Astorino. "Property taxes in our three counties are among the highest in the country. The burden that this has placed on our seniors, young people, families and businesses in untenable. Structural financial reform is needed right now, and we are calling on Albany to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."

The three county executives discussed such issues as relief from New York State unfunded dates, the increasing costs of pension, the need for tax incentive districts to create jobs and establishing alternative energy initiatives to reduce energy costs for homeowners and businesses.

 

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Mangano said: "With the state of the economy, we are facing some very uncertain times. We know our residents are already overburdened by high taxes -- all three of our counties pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. We want to create a coalition where we work together to help taxpayers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. We share the same kinds of problems, and we can best serve our residents by coming together as a team to find solutions."

"Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester counties have many similarities. In fact, all three have some of the highest cost of living in the nation," said Levy. "From creating new jobs to reducing energy costs, we had many productive discussions that could benefit all residents."