Spin Cycle

The Suffolk Legislature's Budget and Finance Committee today approved a measure that will lead to more borrowing for small-scale items.

The measure, which will go to the full Legislature for a vote next week, allows the county to borrow for items that cost less than $25,000 or will be used for fewer than five years. By law, the county is required to pay cash for such items, though legislators have waived the provision each year since 2002.

County Executive Steve Levy transferred the $2 million dedicated for pay-as-you-go items to help fill the estimated $150 million budget deficit, according to Gail Vizzini, the director of the Budget Review Office.

Legis. Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset) opposed the measure, which passed 5-2.

In other action, the committee discharged without recommendation a request from Treasurer Angie Carpenter to add the Empire National Bank to the county's list of designated depositories. Empire's directors include former Presiding Officer Paul Tonna. Tonna's name was not mentioned during this morning's discussion.