Budget axes DOT consultant use

By DEBORAH A. MILES
The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has been one of the top agencies that had to succumb to outside contractors in the past decade.

The good news is Gov. Eliot Spitzer feels state workers can do the job at a lower cost, as evidenced in his 2007-08 Executive Budget.

The DOT budget has increased by $4 billion, giving the agency $7.7 billion. The budget provides for 411 more employees. That includes 108 new state engineers to bring design, inspection and other construction-related work previously contracted-out to consultants back to the agency.

“This budget reflects what PEF has been fighting to accomplish,” said Lou Ferrone Jr., a DOT Executive Board representative. “However, we still need to monitor the use of outside consultants.”

Ferrone noted the budget calls for an increase of 50 contract employees, or less than 5 percent from last year’s budget.

“The discrepancy between the stated policy to reduce the use of consulting engineers and a modest increase in employees under consulting contracts may be due to general increases related to Transportation Bond Act funds.

“We will clarify this issue with DOT management and look forward to working with the new DOT commissioner, Astrid C. Glynn, to reduce the use of consultant engineers,” Ferrone said.

The governor also understands bridge inspections should be done in-house, as it is more cost-effective.

“There are existing contracts in place, but at least the state is moving forward to have bridge inspections done by in-house staff,” Ferrone said.

The governor’s budget proposes a $17.8 million or 2.7 percent increase in the Engineering Services (non-federally aided) Highway Capital Projects fund.

“This is another issue for statewide labor-management, as we are unsure how the funding will be divided between state employees and consultant engineers,” Ferrone said.

The Executive Budget also proposes legislation to permanently extend the single audit program for recipients of state transportation assistance, similar to what PEF opposed last year and that resulted in a one-year extension to allow DOT to issue the required reports.

The Communicator March 2007

Features
STATE BUDGET:
- Spitzer's workforce plan
- Lawmakers reform budget process
- Go Public
- DOT
- OCFS
- DOCS
- SED
- DEC
- DOH
- DOL
- OMIG
- OMH
- OMRDD
Threats put parole office on edge

Departments
President's Message
You Said It: Letters to the editor
Point-Counterpoint
Retirees In Action
Getting To Know PEF
Health Notes
Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
Convention Delegates 07 Info
Marchers rally for Suny Upstate
Nurses: Lobby Day is May 22
Stopping attacks at Bronx PC
March is Woman's history month
O'Connel loses Senate bid
Accident takes council leader
Vacancy; Admin. Exec.

Oops! The February issue mistakenly identified member Sue Jeffords as retired; incorrectly referred to PEF Division 239 as Division 283; and omitted that retired thoroughbred C.L. Rib ran 93 races and hit the tote board 51 times.

Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Communicator Feedback
Prefer The Online Edition?
How To Advertise with PEF
The Communicator Staff

Website questions ? Email the
Communicator Webmaster