Budget would privatize youth services
The proposed state budget would begin the privatization
of the youth facility programs at the state Office of
Children and Family Services (OCFS).
The budget would send troubled youngsters to new
community programs operated by private agencies, which is
meant to reduce the need for secure facilities operated
by the state. The budget eliminates 250 beds at the state
residential facilities.
However, PEF contends that secure facilities cannot be
replaced by such community programs, and the move would
increase juvenile delinquency, rather than prevent it.
The budget would cut 577 OCFS positions, abolishing 161
of these, mostly in the youth facilities program.
In addition, the budget would transfer the state’s
Commission on the Blind and Visually Handicapped from
OCFS to the state Labor Department on October 1.
And it would merge the state Council on Children and
Families with OCFS. It appears 20 of the council’s
21 staff would move to OCFS, but that would result in 14
staff cut at OCFS. — Sherry Halbrook
Proposed budget
steamrolls transportation engineers
Approximately 435 state engineers could disappear down a
$53 million pothole in the state Transportation
Department (DOT) budget proposal.
Of those positions, PEF believes 319 staff in DOT’s
design and construction program are at the greatest risk
of layoffs.
The design and construction program has already lost an
estimated 338 full-time positions beyond those planned
for 2002-03.
The budget also aims to pare 65 jobs from planning and
program management and 23 from the real estate program.
The budget would move $578 million in the engineering
services program to capital projects that receive no
federal aid.
The budget would cut engineering services by $51 million
— all of that from state employees, while funds for
private consulting engineers would be not be reduced.
State comptrollers have repeatedly criticized DOT for
using consultant engineers when its own employees do it
better for less. — Sherry Halbrook
General Services
to lose 146 jobs
The budget would cut 146 positions at the state Office of
General Services, including106 to be abolished.
These are likely to come from procurement services and
real property management programs.
The cuts are in addition to the 221 positions already
vacated at OGS in the current budget year, beyond those
required by that budget.
See related budget links below:
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD)
• Office of Children and
Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• Department of Environmental
Conservation (ENCON)
• Education Department (SED)
• Vocational Education Services to Individuals with
Disabilities (VESID)
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of Corrections
Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV)
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
New pact ends 20 years of
sick-leave inequity
PEF wins $1.75 million for
members
Downstate members to save on
fares
Stay in the know with
contract talks
Early Retirement window is
closing fast
Budge
Breakdown
PEF fires back against
proposed budget
Program, job cuts in
proposed state budget
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• OMRDD
• Office of Children
and Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• ENCON
• Education Department (SED)
• VESID
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of
Corrections Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV)
Departments
President's Message:
Stopping job-killing layoffs
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety: Working
conditions symposium
Member Mobilization:
Exposing weakest links
Nurses' Station: LobbyDay
plans for May 5th
Health Notes: Expanded
coverage for women
Retirees In Action:
Death-benefit coverage
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
DVD on members’
accounts of workplace violence
Hidden talents emerge among
members
State AFL-CIO offers
scholarship
Election Board meeting
DCAAccount user? File IRS
form 2441
2003-2006 Elections
Corrected Definitions
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
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