Long Island's Nassau County is one of the nation's wealthiest counties, yet its inability to balance its budget (though the county executive claims it's in surplus) is a warning to other counties to get their finances in order before repealing taxes.
Nassau's major problem was illustrated by borrowing funds to pay for operating expenses and tax refunds for residents and businesses who claimed refunds on their property tax assessments. The take-over also shows that wealthy counties are at-risk as heretofore only poorer cities and counties had seen their finances taken over by the New York State.
"A state oversight board on (Jan.26) seized control of Nassau County's finances, saying the county, one of the nation's wealthiest and most heavily taxed, had nonetheless failed to balance its $2.7 billion budget. While voting 6 to 0 to take over the county's finances, the control board, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, stopped short, for now, of declaring a financial emergency, which would also allow it to impose a wage freeze on county workers.
"In a lengthy text explaining its decision, the authority said that (County Executive) Mangano's signature tax cut - the repeal of a tax on home-heating fuel - was one of several factors that stretched the county's ability to balance its budget to the "breaking point."
The NIFA will release control of the finances back to the county when the budget is balanced.
From WSJ, 1/19: Nassau Attempts to Thwart Takeover: "How did such a wealthy and heavily taxed county end up in such a budget squeeze? Part of the answer, experts say, is that government officials have been unwilling to make politically unpopular service cuts and tax increases during tough economic times."
FULL STORY: New York State Seizes Finances of Nassau County

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie