Impact on state services
So what does all this mean to you?
Acting state Department of Transportation Commissioner Stanley Gee testified during budget hearings in Albany in November.
– Albany Times Union November 10, 2010
His (Stanley Gee) testimony noted that, under current borrowing constraints, workers are able to fix up just 385 bridges every two years, even though 5,500 of the state’s 17,400 bridges are deemed ‘deficient’ in some way.
The state Department of Transportation has lost 1479 employees since 2008 and 98 more have been targeted to be laid off before January 1. That is a 15 percent work force reduction. Will there be enough bridge inspectors to make sure our bridges are safe or are more bridges going to collapse?
The Economic Impact
Offering the Early Retirement Incentive instead of laying off more than 900 state employees would achieve more savings.
The state would save $2.225 million this fiscal year by offering the Early Retirement Incentive to 902 employees rather than laying off 902 employees.
That amounts to 20 percent savings this fiscal year.
If the state goes forward with the plan to lay off 902 state employees, the damage to the state’s economy over the next three years is stunning!
Laying off 902 state employees will take $363,080,054 out of the state’s economy because those laid off workers would no longer be able to:
Shared Sacrifice (to set the record straight)
PEF members have shared in the sacrifice to help solve the state’s budget problems.
The state has already cut what amounts to 100 jobs a week since 2008.
-Statement of Governor Paterson October 28, 2010
“I have approved implementation of a plan to reduce the workforce by an additional 2000 employees, which will include 898 layoffs to be affected at year’s end. When this reduction plan is fully realized, my administration will have reduced the state workforce by more than 11,000 employees.”
The number of state employees cut since 2008 is actually at 11,500. Our members are struggling to carry out the mission of their agencies by continuing to provide quality services with a significant reduction in the number of employees available to do the work.
PEF worked in good faith with Governor Paterson to achieve major costs reductions both short term and long term.
These are just a few of the services that would be jeopardized by continued workforce reductions.
State Workforce Reductions Include Bridge Inspectors
State Workforce Reductions Include Environmental Responders
State Workforce Reductions Include Food Inspectors
State Workforce Reductions Include Nursing Home Inspectors