NYPublicPayrollWatch Daily Update

Westchester legislators table nonunion health contributions

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:56:46 +0000

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.

White Plains tiptoes on health benefits

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:27:24 +0000

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.

NYS employee benefits skyrocket

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:49:09 +0000

For every $100, the state of New York spends on employee salaries, it now spends another $44 on benefits. That figure will jump to $62 dollars in three years, according to the budget division.

Blame Albany for layoffs

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:17:54 +0000

When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says Governor Paterson's proposed budget will force him to lay off nearly 12,000 city employees, he appears to ignore his role of negotiating 4 percent employees raises during a recession.

Utica teacher benefit costs: "scary"

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:57:28 +0000

Providing health insurance to retired Utica teachers will cost taxpayers $189 million over the next 30 years, an amount the school board president calls "scary".

Budget reruns

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:07:11 +0000

Governor David Paterson wants state employees to defer four percent raises and five days of salary until they retire or quit their jobs. Haven't we seen this movie before?

Utica schools: Keeping taxpayers in the dark (again)

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:54:05 +0000

The Utica school board ratified a new teachers contract in September 2008--even though school business officials could not tell them how much it will cost future taxpayers. Now, the district says it has calculated the cost, but it refuses to make it public.

Syracuse-area teachers get big raises

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:15:22 +0000

Nearly 29,000 Syracuse-area residents have lost their jobs and the inflation rate is flat so you'd think that might give school board members pause.

MTA raises: "Rich, but not unique"

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:56:24 +0000

A court decision upholding a three-year, 11.5 percent pay raise for New York City transit workers should make local governments elsewhere nervous.

Teachers-only pension sweetener

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:51:10 +0000

The price tag for the Legislature's promise of an early retirement incentive for teachers isn't publicly known, but a similar bill would cost school districts $200 million in added pension payments next year.

Pay hikes for LI teachers top private sector increases

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:40:35 +0000

Pay raises for teachers in eight Long Island school districts are growing at a slower rate than in the past, but still exceed percentage increases granted to private sector employees.

Governor's memory lapse

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:44:34 +0000

Did Governor David Paterson forget why he vetoed a bill that virtually locks in health benefits for retired state and local government employees? Or does he believe retired teachers are more deserving?

Freeze government salaries?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:18:46 +0000

Is Governor David Paterson ready to consider a wage freeze? Based on what he told reporters Sunday, the answer may be yes.

Save now, pay later

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:26 +0000

City of Poughkeepsie cops aren't getting a pay raise in 2009--a decision likely to raise local property taxes for decades to come.

Double-dipping judges

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:36:30 +0000

New York's judges haven't gotten a pay raise in nearly 12 years, but some are taking advantage of a legal loophole allowing them to continue to draw their salaries while collecting a pension.