HAUPPAUGE — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was frank when he delivered his first State of the County address Wednesday evening. Bellone said Suffolk County was dealing with the greatest fiscal crisis in its history, facing a budget gap of more than $500 million. Having undertaken multiple cost-saving measures already, Bellone explained the county is authorized to borrow $90 million in a revenue anticipation note and that he and his staff would take pay cuts.

Bellone also recognized the firefighters who stopped the large brushfires that raged in Ridge and Manorville this and last week.