No Shelter Island workers file for unemployment

Because of increased unemployment costs, towns in New York State were required this year to pay a $22 surcharge for each worker.

But not Shelter Island. No one filed an unemployment claim this year, so there were no extra charges to be paid.

“We got the news from ADP [the firm that handles payroll for the town],” Supervisor James Dougherty told the town board at its Friday meeting. “We’re probably the only town in New York State that isn’t paying.”

The surcharge, just under $22 per employee, was imposed because of extra interest costs involved in paying unemployment claims. Shelter Island has fewer than 90 town employees, none of whom filed an unemployment claim.

Dougherty said the town would have had to pay about $1,700 if any unemployment claims had been filed.