LI's pension bill spurs calls for reform

State lawmakers said Monday that revelations that Long Island taxpayers are on the hook for a nearly 40 percent increase in pension bills shows the need for action to curb rising costs.

Reacting to a Newsday story on Sunday showing that local taxpayers will ante up $1.25 billion for the state pension system over the next year, Scott Reif, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), said, "It's clear that exploding pension costs are bankrupting local governments and squeezing taxpayers, and must be addressed. As Senator Skelos has said, everything must be on the table this year."

Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) said state lawmakers are on notice about ever-rising pension costs.

"The economic crisis has made us all more aware of the need to ensure the sustainability of our long-term spending and I have no doubt that this is a factor that will weigh very heavily on us," Lavine said. "The issue has less to do with conservatives, progressives, and middle-of-the-road people than it does with the basic concepts of sustainability."

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has called for establishing a new, less expensive pension tier to reduce costs for taxpayers. He's also promised to address pension padding, double dipping, overtime abuse and employee contributions to cover health care costs.

"No doubt we need pension reform," Cuomo said after a recent speech at Manhattanville College. But he added that he would wait to produce a "comprehensive reform package" after he finalizes a state budget with the Legislature.

Spokesmen for Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) did not respond to requests for comment.

Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) said he still was waiting to see the details of Cuomo's proposal.

However, Martins said that, "unless we come to terms with how we deal with pensions, it's going to become very difficult for our local communities to make ends meet. We need leadership on mandate relief that's going to take a lot of pressure off our local communities."

"The governor has made it more than clear not only during his campaign but more recently that he's willing to work with the Legislature on this," he said. "I'm waiting to see what he has in mind."

"It's obviously a real problem," Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) said of escalating pension costs. "Surely, a fair balance can be created to make the system better. Going forward, you have to take a look at creating another [pension] tier."

E.J. McMahon, director of the Empire Center of New York State Policy, a conservative think tank, predicted that skyrocketing costs would continue on Long Island.

"It's going to quadruple for school districts over the next five years," McMahon said. "The 40 percent increase is the first stage in a 300 percent increase over five years."

With Yancey Roy