August 07, 2008
Eyeing legislative staffs
With the state facing a $6.4 billion deficit next year, a Buffalo TV station asks, "Should cuts by state lawmakers start with their own staff?"
Based on data posted on SeeThroughNY.net, WGRZ reports: "14 state senators and Assembly members who represent Western New York have staff payrolls totaling $3.4 million."
That figure increases to $5 million when factoring in health insurance, pension benefits, FICA, and other employee costs, which the state Division of Budget says average 46 percent of salaries.
WGRZ also reports:
Across New York State there are 74 Assembly staff members who made more in 2007 than the $79,500 base pay of the Assembly member they worked for. On the Senate side, there were 105 staffers whose pay was greater than the base pay of $79,500 for their boss.
Both Robin Schimminger and Sam Hoyt, Democratic Assemblymen from Erie Counties, said their staff expenditures are not out of line. Schimminger has 10 employees paid $410,000, the highest staff expenditure for the western New York delegation.
Governor David Paterson had ordered a hiring freeze for the Executive Branch workforce, hoping to save money by not replacing workers who retire or resign. Legislative leaders have not proposed a similar policy.
Schimminger and Hoyt said they would be willing to reduce their staffs if the executive and judicial branches did likewise.
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