Pat Foye's Parting Shot

When Pat Foye resigned recently as one of County Executive Ed Mangano’s top deputies, he gave Nassau County some good advice: Don’t fight the NIFA takeover of the county’s finances with political attacks and litigation. Instead, he said, try to work with NIFA on balancing the books.

But Foye’s advice was ignored. Nassau went to court, arguing that the NIFA takeover was illegal and unconstitutional.

Worse were Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt’s unconvincing arguments that NIFA’s actions were politically motivated.

While the county may have a formidable legal case against NIFA’s actions considering the murky state laws spelling out its powers, Nassau County still stands to lose even if it prevails in court.

The fact is that county legislators adopted a lousy budget plan, one that NIFA says includes $176 million in risky items. And while Mangano continues to argue that his budget is balanced and that, if necessary, he can deal with any shortfall through contingency plans, his arguments fall short.

At the very least, the county should revise its budget by NIFA’s deadline–as it says it will–and substitute contingency plans that it can accomplish for risky budgeted revenues and savings that it cannot.

Worst case would be for Nassau to win its court case without fixing its budget. For a county that continues to borrow to pay operating expenses, getting rid of NIFA would be like losing your only rich uncle, one who vouches for your credit.

As Foye warned his former colleagues, beware of what you wish for.