State Senate, Assembly poised to back furloughs

ALBANY - Both legislative houses are poised to back Gov. David A. Paterson's plan to furlough state employees rather than shutting government.

State workers have never been furloughed in modern history.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) indicated Wednesday his reluctant support for emergency spending bills that also would furlough 100,000 unionized state employees for one day for each week until a new budget is in place. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bills Monday.

However, Silver said he believed the furloughs were illegal and would probably be overturned by the courts.

If lawmakers were to reject the spending bills, government would begin closing immediately because the state would lack authority to spend money. The 2010-11 budget is 36 days late and operations are continuing under weekly bills.

"I'm not prepared to close government," Silver said. The furlough plan "is not where I would go . . . I personally believe the governor can't interfere with existing contracts."

Silver's comments came a day after State Senate chief John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) said his house would pass the bills to avert a government shutdown. He also said he believed furloughs were illegal.

Those who would be affected work at state agencies, SUNY, CUNY and the offices of comptroller and attorney general. The legislature and courts are exempt.

Robert Megna, Paterson's budget director, said furloughs would begin May 17 and spread across the seven-day period to ensure a minimal disruption in services. Management and confidential employees, those with salaries paid for with federal dollars, and critical occupations such as State Police trooper, nurse and prison guard are exempted.

On Long Island, furloughs would probably impact some of the 11,556 members of the Civil Service Employees Association and Public Employees Federation, primarily at Stony Brook University and other SUNY colleges.

SUNY spokesman David Henahan said administrators would implement the furloughs in a manner that "ensures educational services to our students are not disrupted."

CSEA and PEF are lobbying lawmakers to reject the furlough plan. Gretchen Penn, political and legislative coordinator for CSEA's regional office, said losing one day's pay will be a hardship for union members who earn an average yearly salary of $34,000.

In Albany, Paterson said he was forced to recommend furloughs because CSEA, PEF and other unions have refused so far to grant $250 million in concessions to help close the state's $9.2-billion budget deficit. He has asked them to forgo a 4-percent salary increase, delay one week's pay until retirement and make other cost savings.

"They have not agreed to a dime of workforce [cost] reductions," the governor said.

The furlough plan would save $250 million in eight weeks, or about $30 million per week.

Furloughs in other states

New York is one of the few cash-strapped states that haven't sought savings from furloughs and/or layoffs.

Half the states, including Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio, have used furloughs to help close budget deficits in the recession.

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faces many lawsuits over his furlough of more than 200,000 workers.

Asked about California, Gov. David A. Paterson said, "I've been sued before," referring to challenges of his lieutenant governor appointment and withholding school aid.