Page 3 - Work Force June 2024

June 2024 3
The Work Force
In late April, Gov. Kathy Hochul
and state legislators approved a
final $237 billion state budget that
includes numerous improvements for
CSEA members.
Most notably, the budget includes
substantial improvements to Tier 6,
which were highlighted in The Work
Force’s May edition. The pension
for Tier 6 members will be boosted
by using an employee’s top three
consecutive earning years, instead of
five, to calculate their final average
salary.
This change will increase
retirement security for Tier 6
employees and make Tier 6 look
more like earlier pension tiers.
However, there is more work to do on
fully reforming Tier 6.
CSEA remains committed to
continuing to work on Tier 6 reforms
in the future to achieve tier equity.
“We scored another victory for
Tier 6 pension reform!” said CSEA
President Mary E. Sullivan. “With the
thousands of emails, calls, rallies
and letters to the legislature and the
governor, we were able to change the
way final average salary is calculated
for Tier 6. This is what happens when
we all work together and get involved
in legislative and political action! It
matters.”
The budget also includes
improvements to state payroll,
education aid, local government
funding and mental health access.
While this budget was good for
CSEA members, unfortunately, the
budget also provides the governor
with the ability to close up to five
Department of Correction and
Community Supervision (DOCCS)
facilities with only 90 days’ notice.
Our union will work with Governor
Hochul to ensure that members in
DOCCS are protected and given job
opportunities at nearby facilities.
To see full budget summary, visit
cseany.org/issues.
Final state budget includes
positive gains for CSEA members
Extending a law that excludes overtime earnings
when calculating a Tier 6 employee’s contribution
rate.
Eliminating the five-day salary withholding program
for state employees beginning on July 1, 2024.
Stopping the lag payroll for newly hired state
employees beginning on July 1, 2025.
Creating 200 new inpatient beds in Office of Mental
Health facilities.
Here are some ways the state budget will
benefit the CSEA members:
Increasing funding for local governments by $50
million. This is the first increase in several years.
Rejecting the Governor’s proposal to remove the
state’s “hold harmless” provision, which would have
resulted in many school districts receiving less state
aid than last year.
Increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate
for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living
programs.
Requiring all counties to pay child care providers a
minimum of 10% more for providing nontraditional
hours of care and care to children who are
experiencing homelessness.
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