Raiding of Clean Water Funds

Suffolk County has raided over $171 Million from Clean Water Funds to pay for day-to-day operating expenses, which was ruled ILLEGAL by a State Appellate Court when environmental groups brought forward legal action.

Raiding of environmental funds should be reason enough for any environmentally-conscious voter NOT to vote for the incumbent County Executive and Democrat RUBBERSTAMP Legislators who have allowed this to happen.

In a referendum several years ago, Suffolk County's voters approved certain taxes to be raised and entrusted these monies to be dedicated to SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS for Drinking Water Protection, Open Space Preservation and Sewer District Infrastructure Stabilization.

Unfortunately, under Democrat control of the County Executive seat with Rubberstamp Democrat Legislators approving an unbalanced County Budget year after year, the illegal practice was uncovered that transfers of monies from restricted environmental funds were paying for General Fund operating costs.

The Long Island Pine Barrens Society brought legal action and won in court. Yet, under the current administration, the County appealed – not once, but twice. For the second time, a State Appellate Court ruled that the county violated the law. Finally, in his 2020 Budget, County Executive Bellone proposed a repayment schedule to begin to restore the $171 Million funds that had been raided, plus interest. This repayment plan will take several years.

Imagine all the clean water projects that could have been accomplished with $171 Million had our County Elected Officials NOT violated voters' trust by expending these monies for wrongful purposes. Imagine all the cesspools that could have been replaced with new more efficient septic systems, and innovative low-nitrogen systems, where appropriate. Imagine the sewer district infrastructure that could been facilitated for greater economic vitality and improved health of our environment, surface waters, and drinking water.

It's time for a change and a change for the better. The incumbent County Legislator for the South Fork, Bridget Fleming, has failed to stand up for the taxpayers and the Legislature has failed to act as the checks and balances to the County Executive, which is a Legislator's primary responsibility.
Legislator Fleming has put your drinking water at risk to plug budget deficits that she voted for.

Legislator Fleming has also voted to continue automatic pay raises for herself – one of two legislators out of 18 who insisted on receiving salary increases, while 16 legislators understood the necessity of leading by example while the county was under such severe financial distress.

As former Town Supervisor and Councilwoman, I have a proven track record of standing up for the taxpayers, holding the line on taxes and working tirelessly to put an end to political budgeting in Southampton Town. I stepped in 2007 to run a primary in the race for Southampton Town Supervisor to take on the reins of local government in an economic downturn and the many challenges of righting the ship in treacherous seas. As Supervisor, I did the heavy-lifting to put Southampton Town on the right track.

The New York State Comptroller Report issued in 2010, reviewing 2008-2009 finances, concluded that I marshaled the resources and took the critically important steps needed to put Southampton Town on "solid financial footing" and to address the structural deficits uncovered in the operating budget of the previous administration. As Supervisor from 2008-2009, working with a team of key Town administrators, I overhauled the Town's Budget, provided transparency, cut back millions in spending, and tightened financial controls. I moved swiftly to take the corrective actions needed to create a strategic financial plan incorporated into the 2010 Town Budget. This action successfully generated budget surpluses by the end of 2010, eliminating past fund balance deficits from the prior administration. Just five weeks after I completed my term as Supervisor, Moody's Credit Report applauded my administration for its "swift and effective response to correct the Town's internal accounting procedures and controls and adoption of formal policies and procedures intended to ensure conservative and transparent financial management." Moody's also noted that future bond ratings would reflect the Town Board's compliance with my 2010 Budget Plan, adopted in November 2009.

As a former government official, I believe that I have earned a reputation for being honest, fair, meticulous, hard-working, results-oriented, reform-minded and independent.

I have a solid background in government administration, public policy formation, municipal finance, and constituent services. As former elected official for Southampton Town, I have extensive knowledge and experience in budget and finance, land use and zoning, and comprehensive planning. I championed numerous hamlet studies as updates to the Town's Master Plan and sponsored many legislative initiatives to close zoning loopholes, facilitate affordable housing and economic development, and policies designed to enhance services to seniors, youth, and local families. I spearheaded upgrades to various community facilities and recreational parks throughout Southampton Town's many hamlets. As a tireless advocate for our community's volunteer emergency responders, I worked hard to deliver the resources needed and policies that best allow for continued effective delivery of services. Working with a generous benefactor and the Southampton Town Animal Shelter Foundation, I championed the construction of a new no-kill shelter and privatization through a public-private partnership, that now is a model in the United States. Working across political party lines, I spearheaded ethics reforms and was also the decisive vote needed to enact the Domestic Partnership Registry in Southampton Town.

I have worked extensively with the Town Trustees and Town, County, and State Highway jurisdictions to implement stormwater abatement programs and other projects to help protect surface waters near road endings. I have supported initiatives for clean energy and renewable energy and a town-wide communications plan.

Before being elected, I served as Executive Assistant to a prior Town Supervisor and played a significant role in that administration when the Community Preservation Fund was enacted for the East End and approved by the voters. The CPF Program has proven to be a viable funding source for land preservation, farmland protection, and other environmental initiatives, most recently allowing for water quality improvement projects (such as sewer districts and subsidizing septic system upgrades.) The CPF Program has had great success over these years, but when it was first proposed it was a heavy lift strongly supported by the former Town Supervisor Cannuscio's administration. In 1999, the CPF Program was resoundingly approved by the voters and to date has generated over $1.435 Billion in revenue at no expense to property taxpayers. In my capacity as Supervisor and Councilwoman, I cast my vote many times to support preservation of our precious resources with CPF dollars.

If I am elected Suffolk County Legislator, my key priorities are Fiscal Solvency, Water Quality - Regional Groundwater Protection and Surface Waters (including stormwater runoff abatement for roadways near waterways), Affordable Housing, and Economic Development. Public health and public safety are the principal responsibilities of government and I pledge to deliver the responsive representation we need for the people of the South Fork.

Respectfully, I ask for your vote on Election Day, November 5 for the position of Suffolk County Legislator. For more info, please visit my campaign website LindaKabotForSuffolk.com

Linda Kabot, Candidate for Suffolk County Legislator LD#2 (South Fork/Hamptons)

Email: LindaKabotHamptons@gmail.com

Cell 631-219-7218