State budget analysis

Spitzer continues rebuilding workforce, reduces contracting

By SHERRY HALBROOK
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Budget proposal for 2008-09 provides a number of bright spots for PEF members, the services they provide and the New Yorkers who rely on them.
“Overall, the governor’s proposal is a good budget for state employees and PEF members,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “It would boost the state workforce by 1,846 employees, with at least 1,000 of them in the PS&T unit represented by PEF.”

The governor’s budget also demonstrates he’s been listening to PEF on at least two of its top issues: privatization and workplace violence.
The governor is not just adding employees, he is beginning to reduce the state’s reliance on private consultants – by 452 contract workers (4 percent) in 2008-09.

And Spitzer’s plan adds money and staff to reduce workplace violence that takes a terrible toll on staff and patients.

“It’s encouraging to see continued progress toward reducing the state’s reliance on costly private consultants,” Brynien said. “We are pleased to see the governor has listened and is responding to our calls to reduce workplace violence and would also add staff to improve the state Division of Parole’s ability to supervise parolees.”

Not all of the news is good, however. As announced previously, the Executive Budget would close four smaller state correctional facilities and close, reduce or merge six programs for troubled youths.

“PEF is committed to protecting the job security of our members who work at these facilities slated for closing or staff reductions,” Brynien said. “We’ll work with the governor, the Legislature and our labor-management committees at those agencies to achieve that goal.”

The closings would affect an estimated 71 PS&T positions at the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) and 45 at the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

The union also wants more information about the governor’s proposal to “monetize/securitize” future NYS Lottery revenue, which could generate an estimated $25 billion to $40 billion for the state. The Spitzer administration has assured PEF the jobs of current Division of the Lottery employees would be protected.

Biggest net gainers
The following state agencies would post the biggest net staffing gains under the Executive Budget proposal in state FY 2008-09:
• Transportation – 322 FTEs, which includes 339 new state engineers to staff the new State and Local Bridge Preservation Program and 55 new FTEs to replace consultant staff in information technology, bridge inspection, and heavy equipment maintenance programs. The additional positions are offset by projected attrition.

• Health – 255 FTEs, which includes 87 in the Institution Management Program.
• Medicaid Inspector General – 227 FTEs, which reflects 75 new staff and the hiring of currently authorized staff. The 75 new positions are to combat fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid Program.

• Mental Health – 163-415 FTEs, up to 215 of which are targeted to support the Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act and provide mental health services in prisons.

• Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities – 152-183 FTEs, including some to develop workplace-violence-prevention training and investigation programs.

• Parole – 119 FTEs to supervise parolees in the community, especially sex offenders, and to support expansion of re-entry services.
• Motor Vehicles – 114 FTEs, primarily to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring all travelers to present a secure document when entering or leaving the United States.

• Audit and Control – 114 FTEs, including 40 for the State and Local Government Accountability Program; 39 for the Operations Program; 23 for the Retirement System for business process redesign; and 12 for other programs.

• Education – 113 FTEs, including 50 for the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities Program, 48 for the Cultural Education Program, and 12 for the School for the Blind (This is new accounting for existing items.).

Biggest net losers
OCFS and DOCS, stand to suffer the largest net staffing losses:
• Children and Family Services – Net loss of 243 FTEs, from closing seven youth facilities (-254), the redeployment of 23 current positions, to be offset by hiring of 12 additional staff for educational and community reintegration services for youth, child-welfare investigations and adult protective services. According to the budget, 238 of the positions to be eliminated are filled. One position would be transferred to the Health Department.

• Correctional Services – Net loss of 153 FTEs, from closing facilities (-388 FTEs) and reducing staff in the Correctional Industries Program (-117 FTEs,) offset by an expansion of mental health and re-entry programs (+352 FTEs).