What’s in the Final Budget?
1. Final Budget
On Saturday, April 20, a final budget was passed by both houses of the State Legislature. This budget includes a substantial improvement to Tier 6, boosting the pension for Tier 6 members by using an employee’s top 3 consecutive earning years, instead of 5, to calculate their final average salary. The budget also contains several other provisions that will benefit the CSEA workforce, including:
- Extending a law that excludes overtime earnings when calculating a Tier 6 employee’s contribution rate.
- Eliminating the 5-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.
- 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 childcare providers a minimum of 10% more for providing nontraditional hours of care and care to children who are experiencing homelessness.
You can read CSEA’s full summary of the enacted budget here. 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. We will work with Governor Hochul to ensure that members in DOCCS are protected and given job opportunities at nearby facilities.
2. Early Voting Still Available in CD26
There is still time to vote early in Congressional District 26! Early voting concludes on Sunday, April 28. You can also vote on Election Day, Tuesday, April 30. CSEA has endorsed State Sen. Tim Kennedy, who has been a huge advocate for CSEA and a strong voice for Western New York. Click here for the CSEA profile on Senator Kennedy in The Work Force.
Make a plan to vote! For times and locations, use these helpful links:
Niagara County Voter Information
3. Next Week
The State Legislature is not scheduled to convene until next Monday, May 6. When the legislature returns, there are only 18 scheduled session days remaining in the year.
4. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news!
Ambulance Direct Payments:
Bumping, Retreating and Rehiring Rights:
Civil Service Exam Announcements:
School Workplace Violence Prevention Programs:
Counting Provisional Time Toward Probation: