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Dear Neighbor,
Recently, we published an informational postcard and newsletter to help Nassau County taxpayers understand where your tax dollars go.
It included the pie chart below, which showed six categories of Nassau County spending, which encompass more than 40 County departments. Many readers noticed that Law Enforcement and Safety represented the largest category of spending, at 32% of the County’s expenditures.
The Law Enforcement and Safety category includes Police Headquarters and Police Districts, the Sheriff’s Department and its Corrections Division, which runs the Nassau County Correctional Center, the Department of Probation, the Fire Commission, which includes the Fire Marshall’s Office, Fire Communications Center and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy, The Office of Emergency Management, and the office of the Crime Victim Advocate.
In August 2024, Nassau County was named the #1 Safest County in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition came after U.S. News analyzed nearly 3,000 counties’ safety based on crime, injuries and public safety capacity. Nassau County earned a public safety score of 100 and was highlighted for its per capita spending on health and emergency services.
In a related U.S. News study that identified the top 500 Healthiest Communities nationwide, Nassau County came in at #29 based on factors including Population Health (measured by access to care, health behaviors, health conditions and health outcomes) and Food & Nutrition (based in part on availability of nutritious food).
Community data resource Niche.com also named Nassau County one of the Healthiest Counties in America, where we came in at #11 in the U.S. (out of 2,766 counties).
Niche also ranked Nassau County #17 in Best Counties for Families in America. Ratings such as these are a testament to the quality of life in our County.
In the next edition of the Comptroller’s Newsletter, we’ll talk about schools and education in Nassau County.
Eliminating the Cash in “Petty Cash”
The term “petty cash” is used in many businesses to refer to a small (petit) amount of money kept on hand for incidental purchases. It was traditionally kept in a small, locked box, with access restricted to a designated petty cash custodian.
In an entity as complex as Nassau County government, with dozens of departments and hundreds of offices, managing money in this manner is not efficient or effective.
The Field Audit Division of my office recently concluded a review of the County’s 49 petty cash accounts in 33 departments. The review looked at each department’s cash on hand along with the processes for petty cash spending and reimbursement, as well as compliance with the County’s directives and policies related to petty cash. While no egregious misuses were identified, reimbursement of employees for petty cash spending and replenishment of the cash boxes were cumbersome, time-consuming processes. It was clear that in this age of technology, there had to be a better way.
Working in collaboration with Nassau County Treasurer David Chiang, we have eliminated the use of an antiquated cash box system at the County and replaced it with tightly controlled departmental purchasing/petty cash P-Cards. This new system provides enhanced internal controls and financial oversight, modernizing the way the County conducts business.
Departmental petty cash spending limits had been set on a case-by-case basis by the Nassau County Legislature, some established as far back as 1956. My office worked with the Treasurer, the Administration and the Legislature to get a single, updated, comprehensive resolution that aligns petty cash limits with departmental functions passed. Now we are utilizing contemporary charge cards and technology to administer petty cash P-cards that come with strict spending limits. The monthly bills come to Comptroller’s Office for review and approval.
The new P-card system has brought Nassau County into the twenty-first century with regard to petty cash management, reducing the use of paper checks, forms and cash.
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Fire Prevention Month in Nassau County
The National Fire Protection Association reports that in the United States, a fire department responds to a fire call every 24 seconds.
To combat and potentially reduce the number and severity of fires people may encounter, on October 6th, the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department held an open house in recognition of National Fire Safety and Prevention Month. This year’s Fire Prevention Campaign theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You.” Volunteer fire departments across Nassau County hosted events to educate and inform residents of key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines.
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During the Mineola open house, officers and members of the department provided an opportunity for residents to experience fire operations using firefighting equipment and apparatuses and offered life-saving tips to help keep them safe. My sincere thanks to Chief of the Department Domingos Magalhaes and all the members of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department for welcoming me and our local residents to the firehouse and for raising awareness around the importance of fire safety and prevention. Here in Nassau County, we are grateful for our fire service members and their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe. Learn more about the Nassau County Fire Commission here.
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