For a fifth straight year, Nassau County was able to report a budget surplus - this time close to $20 million. The county comptroller tells News 12 that money will be used to continue paying off previous debts, and that doing so has improved the county’s financial bond rating and outlook.

These positive financial results have also led to the comptroller, along with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, calling for an end to NIFA’s control period over the county’s finances.

NIFA responded to News 12 with a statement, saying: ‘We believe that a control period is necessary in controlling the county’s spending now and into the future.”