Private contractors awarded contracts for the construction or maintenance of public works, as well as building service workers, are required to be paid the prevailing wage. However, the process for determining prevailing wage is neither straight-forward nor transparent.
President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed urging the legislature to pass Governor Cuomo's proposal to modernize the State's pension system by offering new employees a 401(k)-style option.
As 2012 begins and the New York State Legislature begins a new session, its first priority should be reform of the financing and benefits of pensions for state and local employees. Such reforms are urgently needed because (1) the relatively high cost of the current system places New York at a competitive disadvantage, and (2) these costs have been growing and are projected to continue growing, making a bad situation worse.
The CBC today released a policy brief titled “The First Priority in the New Year – Pension Reform.” It compiles the latest financial data on the rising cost of pension obligations of government entities in New York State, including New York City, other localities and the MTA, and, in doing so, underscores the case for comprehensive pension reform to alleviate financial burdens statewide.
As Governor Cuomo prepares his executive budget, he should seek structral changes that slow down the state's most potent cost-drivers (pensions, school aid and Medicaid), halt additional economic development spending and steer clear of budget tricks. Senior Research Associate Tammy Gamerman pens an op-ed for the New York Post.
CBC sent a letter of commendation to the State Legislators who voted against school district borrowing for pension contributions (A6309/S4067). See the list of legislators after the jump.
CBC President Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed congratulating the Governor and State Legislature on a productive session, but says more needs to be done on fiscal matters.
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