State budget proposal doesn’t put people first ALBANY — CSEA is extremely concerned with several items in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $152.3 billion 2017- 18 New York state budget proposal, including those related to care of some of our state’s most vulnerable people. The budget proposes to cut approximately 250 positions in the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) through attrition. The proposed budget fails to invest in needed services, including CSEA’s care pilot programs, and puts even more stress on a work force that already works the most overtime out of any state agency. “The governor’s proposed budget for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) shows a reckless disregard for existing clients and the state work force trying to care for them,” CSEA President Danny Donohue said. “Governor Cuomo thumbs his nose at the state work force and tells them to do more with less — again. At the same time, the waiting list for services continues to grow, with more than 11,000 families waiting in need of services. Families in need don’t care about a $70 million gondola ride at the state fair. They care about services for their loved ones.” More than 4,300 positions have been lost since 2008, forcing nearly a decade of mandatory overtime, with an all-time high of more than 45 percent of OPWDD employees working overtime. According “As options run out, all that is left to cut is vital services such as emergency response or child protective services or consolidating governments, which residents have already indicated they do not want.” to the New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s 2016 New York State Agencies’ Use of Overtime report, between 2007 and 2015, overtime totaled more than $4.8 billion, with 2015 expenditures alone reaching $716 million. Mental health services are also taking a hit in this budget proposal, with about 350 jobs slated to be lost, also by attrition. The budget also calls for the loss of 140 beds at state Office of Mental Health facilities, transfer of 280 beds to nonprofit organizations and closure of up to 85 outpatient clinics. “On top of this breakdown, state mental health services have shifted, along with the blame and cost, placing a burden on local governments — the very same local governments the governor is trying to reduce and control,” Donohue said. Shifting services without aid Local governments, which are already challenged under the governor’s tax cap, will further struggle to maintain services under the governor’s plan. Municipalities have already done whatever is necessary to meet service demands in the face of zero growth budgets, a .68 percent tax cap and an incentivized tax freeze. The governor recently announced a proposal to require all county executives or managers outside of New York City to come up with plans to consolidate or share services with municipalities to save money that could become referendums on ballots in November. “The idea that New York’s high taxes are due to excess municipal spending is just misleading and not based in reality,” Donohue said. “As options run out, all that is left to cut is vital services such as emergency response or child protective services or consolidating governments, which residents have already indicated they do not want.” This budget is wrong for New York. “At a time when the governor seems to have an endless flow of dollars to failed economic development programs like START-UP NEW YORK (now renamed the Excelsior Business Program) the legislature shouldn’t be complicit in this reckless budget,” said Donohue. Governor’s 2017-18 New York State Budget proposal, by the numbers: $152.3 140 proposed reduction of inpatient beds from Office of Mental Health facilities 280 proposed Office of Mental Health facility beds to be transferred to nonprofits 85 Office of Mental Health outpatient clinics proposed for closure $69 million Total subsidies to the state’s three SUNY hospitals. Governor’s state budget total X X X X billion 250+ X proposed reductions of full-time employees from the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities $4.8 billion Total cost of overtime between 2007 and 2015 $716 million Total cost of overtime in 2015 alone. X X X X X X X 350 proposed reductions of full-time employees from the state Office of Mental Health February 2017 The Work Force 3
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