August 22, 2008
Paterson administration defines "hard hiring freeze"
The Paterson administration put state agencies on notice that there will be few ways to get around its "hard hiring freeze," which also bans promotions, transfers and positions upgrades "unless individually justified."
The Division of Budget will consider waivers in limited situations related to: "ensuring health and safety; generating revenue; or providing essential administrative or operational support for the core mission of the agency."
A bulletin, issued Thursday by budget director Laura Anglin, provides "guidance for strict enforcement if the statewide hiring freeze," which was announced July 30.
A second bulletin issued Thursday offers guidelines to agencies about reducing spending by an additional 7 percent as ordered by Governor David Paterson. Also issued were specific agency targets [here] to save a total of $630 million.
"These savings are an essential part of getting New York's fiscal house in order,"Paterson says in a press release [here], adding:
"With the state facing growing fiscal challenges, I have directed each commissioner to sharply focus their operations on their agency's core mission. Especially in the current economic environment, we have a responsibility to the taxpayers to carefully scrutinize every dollar we spend."
The actions are prompted by a projected $5.4 billion budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. This spring, Paterson pressed agencies to cut spending by $500 million, or 3.35 percent, which is separate from the 7 percent reduction.
On Tuesday, Paterson called the Legislature to Albany to address the budget gap. Legislators cut $427 million in the current fiscal year and $600 million next year.
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