Levy: Layoffs if unions don't accept deal

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy warned Monday that he will include "hundreds of layoffs" in his proposed 2012 operating budget unless county unions agree to $50 million in health concessions -- including workers paying a share of health premiums for the first time.

Facing a budget hole estimated at as much as $179 million earlier this month, Levy renewed a request he had made in May, asking all 11 county unions for new givebacks on health insurance before his final budget is filed in mid-September.

Levy disclosed his new request to unions as he gave a series of media interviews aimed at unhinging a legislative plan to keep tuition for 25,000 full-time Suffolk Community College students at $3,990, the same as Nassau. Levy and Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) said the college should use its record $15.6 million reserve fund to keep tuition down -- as Nassau did recently -- rather than seek $900,000 in new county funding.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) has proposed a $1.8 million amendment under which the county would add $900,000 to the college budget and SCC would cut an equal amount to keep tuition below $4,000.

Levy said Suffolk's increased contribution would become part of the college's base spending, so that the county would have to add $900,000 for 2011-12 and another $900,000 when the college puts forward its 2012-13 spending package.

"That is money we can't afford, when legislators are looking at closing health centers, laying off workers or increasing taxes," Levy said.

"This budget is going to contain layoffs," Levy said of his upcoming budget.

Suffolk now pays $309 million a year for health insurance for 11,500 county workers, 8,135 retirees and former workers with 10 years' service. None pay any part of their premiums.

Levy said New York State recently increased the share its employees pay by 6 percent -- up from 10 percent for an individual and 25 percent for a family. If workers paid similar ratios in Suffolk, Levy said $35 million in savings would occur each year. Levy said the county may have to cut 100 people for every $7 million to $10 million in savings not achieved.

Levy's latest proposal comes after county unions in the past four years deferred a total of two weeks of pay, saving the county nearly $30 million, and provided $15 million in health concessions.

Noel DiGerolamo, Suffolk PBA vice president, questioned Levy's willingness to hold talks, saying Suffolk's labor lawyer offered only two dates between now and the end of the year to bargain with all unions. "It doesn't sound like his desire is genuine," he said.