Steve Bellone

Last updated
Steve Bellone
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.JPG
8th Executive of Suffolk County
In office
January 1, 2012 –December 31, 2023

With over 240,000 votes cast, Bellone was elected with 57% of the vote in 2011 in his bid for Suffolk County Executive. [8] [9] As County Executive, Bellone has focused on restoring structural financial balance, implementing government reforms, improving water quality, and ensuring a high quality of life for Suffolk County residents.

In 2015, with 99,115 votes, Bellone won reelection as Suffolk County Executive, defeating Jim O'Connor by nearly 25,000 votes. [10]

Fiscal policy

Bellone's first term began with an inherited deficit of over US$500 million which coincided with the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. [11] Using the same economic policies instituted in the Town of Babylon to restore fiscal balance, the Bellone administration reduced Suffolk's deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars. [12] The 2015 budget proposal recommends actions to eliminate the budget deficit completely. [13] The Suffolk County deficit currently[ when? ] stands at $89.9 million, a reduction of $411 million in two years.

Government reform

After Bellone took office, his administration enacted a series of government reforms and offered a variety of proposals to improve government efficiencies while maintaining reduced staffing levels. Beginning in 2010, county staffing was reduced by more than 1,100 employees and achieved annual reoccurring savings of over $100 million as a result. [14] The reduction of "one-shot" revenues has allowed Suffolk County to focus on long-term budget mitigation efforts. In addition, Bellone championed the merger of the Suffolk County Comptroller's Office and Suffolk County Treasurer's Office, a move estimated to save $800,000 a year and streamline the county's financial operations. The merger was approved by over 61% of Suffolk County voters in the November 4, 2014 election. [15] The consolidation of the two offices took place on January 1, 2018. [16]

Water quality

In 2014, Bellone announced that improving the region's water quality would be his administration's top priority, and launched the "Reclaim Our Water " initiative, a comprehensive plan to improve Suffolk County's water quality and eradicate nitrogen pollution. [17] Failing and unmaintained septic systems and cesspools had created an excess amount of nitrogen pollution in the region's water supply, becoming a serious threat to Long Island's water quality, wildlife, and quality of life; and had decimated the shellfish industry. Nitrogen poisoning also destroyed the region's coastal vegetation, which acts as a natural habitat for marine and aviary life as well as a natural buffer against devastating storm surges as seen during Superstorm Sandy. [18] The county identified 360,000 unsewered homes that contributed to nearly 70% of the nitrogen pollution load, and developed an actionable, long-term plan to sewer targeted areas, fortify existing waste water infrastructure, and bring advanced on-site waste water treatment systems to residential properties that were contributing most to the nitrification of waters. [19] [20] Bellone worked extensively with state and federal officials to secure an investment of more than $380 million to help reduce excess nitrogen pollution, invest in wastewater infrastructure and help protect coastal vegetation and marshlands. [21]

Economic development

Bellone initiated a series of economic development plans to build innovation economies throughout Suffolk County to attract highly skilled and knowledge workers, and to keep young professionals on Long Island. Bellone tasked the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning with developing Suffolk County's first comprehensive master plan in decades to address issues involving land use, the overall economy, traffic and transportation, and natural and built resources. [22] He introduced his Connect Long Island vision, a comprehensive transportation and development plan to connect Suffolk County downtowns, universities and research centers via mass transit. [23] The plan strengthened local businesses by expanding natural customer bases and developed the necessary infrastructure to provide residents with north-to-south transportation options.[ citation needed ]

Performance management

In order to maintain core government services while operating with reduced staff, the Bellone administration expanded its Performance Management department, which is responsible for ensuring the county workforce is as productive as possible. The office implemented quality improvements to improve operations in all government departments. [14] [24]

End of administration

Bellone was prevented from running for reelection in 2023 by a Suffolk County law on term limits that he had signed and was overwhelmingly passed in a referendum the previous year. [25]

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References

  1. ↑ Bonilla, Denise M. (October 27, 2011). "Bellone driven to run since childhood". Newsday . Suffolk County, N.Y.
  2. ↑ "Bellone elected Town Supervisor; recount underway for Town Council". Babylon Beacon. Babylon, N.Y. November 15, 2001.
  3. ↑ Fischler, Marcelle S. (December 18, 2009). "Improving Energy Efficiency in Long Island Homes". The New York Times . p. RE5. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Environmentalist of the Year Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone" (PDF). L.I. Sierra Club News. Spring 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ James, Will (April 4, 2013). "Wyandanch Rising Tries to Undo Long Fall" . The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Wyandanch Hamlet Plan - Wyandanch Rising". Sustainable Long Island. April 2009.
  7. ↑ Gamboa, Glenn (October 24, 2014). "Long Island Music Hall of Fame 2014 inductees showcase area's sonic diversity" . Newsday .
  8. ↑ Kaplan, Thomas (November 9, 2011). "Bellone, a Democrat, Elected Suffolk Executive". The New York Times . p. A29. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ Brand, Rick; Murphy, William (November 9, 2011). "Bellone logs decisive win over Carpenter in Suffolk" . Newsday .
  10. ↑ "Suffolk County 2015 Election Results". 4 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Braun, Martin Z. (March 8, 2012). "Suffolk County Seeks to Avoid Takeover Fate That Befell Neighboring Nassau". Bloomberg News .
  12. ↑ "Editorial: Glimmer of stability in Suffolk budget" . Newsday . September 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ "2015 Recommended Operating Budget Narrative and Appropriations. County of Suffolk, NY" (PDF). Suffolk County Government. 2015.
  14. 1 2 LaRocco, Paul (November 26, 2013). "Bellone fights perception of bloated patronage staff" . Newsday .
  15. ↑ "County Exec Bellone Takes Victory Lap As Voters Approve Ballot Proposals". Smithtown Matters. November 5, 2014.
  16. ↑ Schwartz, David M. (November 4, 2014). "Suffolk voters elect John M. Kennedy county comptroller" . Newsday.
  17. ↑ McLogan, Jennifer (January 23, 2014). "Bellone: Long Island's Water Quality Is No. 1 Priority Of My Administration". Babylon Beacon . Babylon, New York. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ Schwartz, David M. (March 25, 2014). "Suffolk seeks $1B in Sandy aid to cut water pollution" . Newsday .
  19. ↑ "Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan" (PDF). Suffolk County Government. January 2014.
  20. ↑ Dooley, Emily C. (January 23, 2014). "Bellone eyes added sewers to fight pollution" . Newsday .
  21. ↑ Winzelberg, David (October 28, 2014). "NYS plans $383M for new Suffolk sewers". Long Island Business News . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Bellone Announces Plan to Create Jobs, Build Suffolk's Innovation Economy (Press Release)". Suffolk County Government. June 26, 2012.
  23. ↑ Callegari, John (June 26, 2012). "Bellone plans north-south transit connections". Long Island Business News . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  24. ↑ Callegari, John (April 10, 2012). "Bellone names performance management team". Long Island Business News . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  25. ↑ Spellman Hoey, Peggy (November 9, 2022). "Suffolk Voters Approve Term Limits For County Officials: Report". patch.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
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