Nassau lawmakers approve employee buyout program for veteran workers

Nassau legislators on Monday unanimously approved a Blakeman administration request to offer buyouts to county employees with more than 10 consecutive years of full-time service through a program designed to save $27 million this year. 

According to agreements between the county and its six public employee unions, the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program would be offered to eligible employees from Feb. 1 through March 5. Those who participate in the program will receive a one-time lump-sum incentive payment equal to $2,000 for each year of service.

The program, however, is pending the approval of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the state-appointed panel that oversees the county's budget. 

Of nearly 7,200 total county employees, about 3,400 are eligible for the incentive. More than 1,300 of those employees are older than 55 years old, many with several decades of service, making them more likely to take the buyout, according to a recent analysis by the county's Office of Legislative Budget Review. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who is running for governor, proposed the plan for the first time in his $4.4 billion executive budget released in September as a cost-saving measure. The plan is expected to save about $30 million annually for the next three years. 

Both Republicans and Democrats voiced concern of understaffing and a loss of experienced workers in critical county departments such as law enforcement, social services and 911 operators. Despite their support for the program, Democrats pressed the county executive's budget officials for a "concrete plan" to hire and train new workers to ensure continuity of services.

Christopher Nolan, deputy county budget director, said it would be difficult to put forth a plan before knowing which workers will take the incentive. He said a clause in the agreements with each of the unions allows for the county to defer some employees' request to leave their county jobs for up to one year to allow for an adequate replacement.

"There has got to be a replacement plan in place. You look over to the Department of Social Services — they are already stretched thin — we do not begrudge anyone from taking advantage of the plan but there needs to be specifics beyond the generic hypothetical plan of 'backfilling,'" Legis. Scott Davis (D-Rockville Centre).

The OLBR report, issued on Friday, said as employees retire from the county, officials will need to monitor staffing levels and make sure overtime spending doesn't rise. The report also says the county has set aside $39.9 million to execute the program, including the incentive and fringe benefit payments to employees, payable to them in a lump sum within 90 days of their separation.

"Overtime, savings are expected to be realized as higher-salary, long-tenured employees are replaced with new hires, at lower salary levels," according to the report. 

Kris Kalender, president of the CSEA Local 830, the largest of the county  employee unions, said about 300 workers he represents are likely to take the buyout, according to a recent internal poll of members.

CSEA was the last of the six unions to sign on to the plan after its leadership had concerns about understaffing and overworking of emergency personnel.

In a statement to Newsday after the vote, Kalender said he would "hold the County to its commitment to maintain the budgeted headcount so our members are not put at risk." 

County budget officials publicly agreed to update legislators on how many workers take the buyout and department staffing levels. 

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.