ALBANY — The enacted FY 2027 New York State Budget includes wins for all CSEA members, most notably with reforms to pension Tiers 5 and 6 that are a major step forward toward full pension reform.
90% of CSEA members in Tier 6 will now pay 3 percent toward their pension, and every Tier 6 member will either see a contribution rate reduction or continue paying the lowest rate allowed. This means a bigger paycheck every pay period.
The budget also increases the cap on pensionable overtime earnings to $30,000 for Tier 5 and Tier 6 members, with that cap growing by 3 percent annually, and extends the law that keeps overtime out of contribution rate calculations through 2028. These are some of the most significant improvements to Tier 6 since the tier was created in 2012.
Investments in services
The FY 2027 budget also includes broad investments across New York’s public sector. K-12 schools received a $1.66 billion increase in total school aid, while SUNY received $15.1 billion in total funding, including $233.8 million in additional operating funds and $1.64 billion in new capital funding for four-year colleges.
The State Museum, Library and Archives received $12 million in new funding, and $44 million was dedicated to creating the High Falls State Park in Rochester. Funding was also included for improvements at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
Support for vulnerable populations was also a priority, with $191.3 million in additional funding for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, expanded child care investments, and increased Medicaid reimbursements for safety-net hospitals.
Local governments will benefit from $150 million in additional municipal assistance to cities, towns, and villages across the state, alongside $13 million to modernize the state’s civil service system.
Highway workers gained stronger safety protections through an expanded work zone speed camera program, and court officers secured funding for three new academy classes along with increments, longevity bonuses, and other compensation improvements.
“From SUNY campuses to state parks and local governments, this budget shows CSEA’s commitment to fighting for the public services and the workers who provide them,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan.
CSEA gained passage of many critical bills in both the Senate and Assembly. Court officers will now have the option to retire at age 55 with 30 years of service. Municipalities can offer 911 and emergency dispatchers a 25-year retirement plan, and probation officers will be eligible for full pay and medical coverage when injured on the job. Social services caseworkers who do home visits will now be protected with panic buttons.
Other victories include prohibiting the impersonation of a union or union representative, barring the outsourcing of public work during a hiring freeze, and authorizing body scanners in juvenile detention facilities.
— Brooke Betke