Cash means state jobs Agencies could be hiring hundreds when the federal stimulus money arrives
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Monday, March 2, 2009 ALBANY — State agencies anticipate hiring hundreds of workers because of the federal stimulus money on its way to New York, according to well-placed state government sources.
Although Gov. David Paterson's budget office is downplaying agency projections on work force additions, two departments alone have recently estimated upward of 500 job opportunities could result.
The Department of Labor estimates 300 to 500 jobs may arise because of $2.8 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A substantial increase in unemployment benefits funding is also anticipated. Staff, particularly those with Spanish-speaking skills and in New York City, will be needed to work with laid-off people, according to the sources.
The Labor Department, which gets 90 percent of its funds from the federal government already, also has proposed adding typists, an economist and auditors.
Leo Rosales, a spokesman for the department, referred fiscal questions to the Division of the Budget, as did a spokeswoman for Paterson and the Department of Transportation's press officer.
"It's likely that positions will be created, but it's really early," Rosales said. The department is already understaffed as it tries to handle almost double the normal traffic at unemployment lines at 80 career centers statewide, he said.
DOT estimates hiring engineers, technicians and project and contract managers because of the infusion of funds for road and bridge construction.
Civil Service spokesman David Ernst said he had heard the 500 hiring number from the Labor Department but could not confirm it. He said his department is working with agencies with hiring plans and promising to be nimble in implementing civil service tests and assembling hiring eligibility lists as they try to add staff.
The agency hiring estimates are being treated confidentially. The process is similar to the annual budget proposals from commissioners to the Division of the Budget, said Jeffrey Gordon, a spokesman for Budget Director Laura Anglin.
He would not confirm the stimulus-related job estimates by the agencies.
"We're working with agencies to assess their staffing needs," he said.
He said the funds in the stimulus bill that will be handled through the Labor Department will amount to about $2.3 billion. Most of the money, he said, is for benefits paid directly to individuals by the Labor Department or by local governments.
"A small portion of these funds represent services provided by DOL to unemployed individuals," he said.
He said DOT should get $1.1 billion for infrastructure projects, mostly highway and bridge construction. And additional funds will be secured through a competitive process, he said.
Another $1.25 billion is expected for mass transit.
The hiring estimates come even as the Paterson administration conducts reduction-in-force planning presentations as the state prepares for contingencies to deal with a projected $14.2 billion budget shortfall for next year.
That is so NYS. Building their empire, one state worker at a time, at the taxpayer's expense.
I don't remember the precentage that obama used, but wasn't the largest percentage of the stimulus going into the private sector?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Cash means state jobs Agencies could be hiring hundreds when the federal stimulus money arrives
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Monday, March 2, 2009
ALBANY — State agencies anticipate hiring hundreds of workers because of the federal stimulus money on its way to New York, according to well-placed state government sources.
Although Gov. David Paterson's budget office is downplaying agency projections on work force additions, two departments alone have recently estimated upward of 500 job opportunities could result.
The Department of Labor estimates 300 to 500 jobs may arise because of $2.8 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A substantial increase in unemployment benefits funding is also anticipated. Staff, particularly those with Spanish-speaking skills and in New York City, will be needed to work with laid-off people, according to the sources.
The Labor Department, which gets 90 percent of its funds from the federal government already, also has proposed adding typists, an economist and auditors.
Leo Rosales, a spokesman for the department, referred fiscal questions to the Division of the Budget, as did a spokeswoman for Paterson and the Department of Transportation's press officer.
"It's likely that positions will be created, but it's really early," Rosales said. The department is already understaffed as it tries to handle almost double the normal traffic at unemployment lines at 80 career centers statewide, he said.
DOT estimates hiring engineers, technicians and project and contract managers because of the infusion of funds for road and bridge construction.
Civil Service spokesman David Ernst said he had heard the 500 hiring number from the Labor Department but could not confirm it. He said his department is working with agencies with hiring plans and promising to be nimble in implementing civil service tests and assembling hiring eligibility lists as they try to add staff.
The agency hiring estimates are being treated confidentially. The process is similar to the annual budget proposals from commissioners to the Division of the Budget, said Jeffrey Gordon, a spokesman for Budget Director Laura Anglin.
He would not confirm the stimulus-related job estimates by the agencies.
"We're working with agencies to assess their staffing needs," he said.
He said the funds in the stimulus bill that will be handled through the Labor Department will amount to about $2.3 billion. Most of the money, he said, is for benefits paid directly to individuals by the Labor Department or by local governments.
"A small portion of these funds represent services provided by DOL to unemployed individuals," he said.
He said DOT should get $1.1 billion for infrastructure projects, mostly highway and bridge construction. And additional funds will be secured through a competitive process, he said.
Another $1.25 billion is expected for mass transit.
The hiring estimates come even as the Paterson administration conducts reduction-in-force planning presentations as the state prepares for contingencies to deal with a projected $14.2 billion budget shortfall for next year.
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