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March 10, 2010

The Empire Center has posted payroll records for the 298,247 employees who worked for the State of New York in 2009 on its transparency site, www.SeeThroughNY.net.

The full release, including tables listing the 50 highest-paid employees in each branch of state government in 2009, plus separate lists for higher education, is here.

According to the release, the highest paid employee in 2009 was Stephen Onesti, chairman of the neurosurgery department at SUNY's Downstate Medical Center, who took home $958,047. Onesti was also the highest paid employee in 2008, earning $947,463.

March 08, 2010

Amid Governor David Paterson's various troubles, a bill quietly was introduced last week--at his request--offering a pension sweetener to public employees represented by a single union: New York State United Teachers.

March 05, 2010

President Barack Obama wants to limit raises of federal government employees to 1.4 percent--far less than the 4 percent raises most New York State workers expect in the coming year.

March 01, 2010

Teachers at the Iroquois School District, eyeing annual raises as high as 8 percent, are suggesting the district hold a "yard sale" to sell old equipment, switch to a four-day workweek, or curtail use of substitute teachers.

February 22, 2010

The city of White Plains is the latest example of how arbitration can produce bloated and unaffordable labor contracts.

February 18, 2010

New York--despite facing a $55 billion liability--is one of 20 states that has set aside absolutely nothing to pay for the growing cost of health insurance for retired public employees, according to a national report.

February 16, 2010

New York state employees, unlike those in the private sector, have been largely untouched by the recession.

February 12, 2010

Don't expect the president of the Albany Police Officers Union to win any community relations awards, especially from the city's beleaguered taxpayers.

February 08, 2010

Westchester County employees have no reason to complain about the high cost of their health insurance--$7,992 for individuals and approximately $22,000 for families, because they pay nothing for it--unless they are property taxpayers.

February 05, 2010

With the City of White Plains facing a potential 23.5 percent tax hike, you might expect bold action to curb health care costs. Instead city politicians took a timid approach likely to produce small savings this year.