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SCHENECTADY COUNTY
County budgets early retirement Shedding older employees could save $1M over 3 years
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Schenectady County is hoping to save up to $1 million over the next three years by offering an early retirement program to senior employees.
    The county Legislature approved the incentive Tuesday night. The incentive takes effect Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. It’s open to employees 55 years of age and older who have at least 25 years of credited service with the county.
    Employees who take the incentive will receive 15 percent of their annual base salary, including longevity, for this year.
    County Manager Kathleen Rooney said 61 employees are eligible of the incentive and if 25 percent of them take it the county would save $300,000 this year and up to $1 million over three years.
    County Legislator Philip Fields, D-Schenectady, said savings come from the county not having to pay the employee’s longevity and contractual steps and through hiring employees at a lower salary.
    County Manager Kathleen Rooney included $300,000 in anticipated savings in the county’s tentative $288 million budget for 2010, which was released Tuesday. The budget is up $9 million over the current spending plan and includes a 2.13 percent reduction in the property tax levy, courtesy of federal stimulus money and the county’s surplus funds.
    The Legislature is reviewing the budget today and is scheduled to continue the review Saturday and Monday. It will hold a public hearing on the budget Sept. 21 and will vote on it Sept. 23; it takes effect Jan. 1. Residents will learn what their tax bills are in December when the state sets equalization rates.
    The budget also contains raises for almost all employees, adds positions, proposes to build a county sheriff’s substation in Duanesburg and includes a $20,000 subsidy to the Schenectady Light Opera Company.
POLITICAL YEAR
    In the eyes of minority Republicans on the county Legislature, the new budget is designed to win votes for Democrats in a crucial election year. Seven seats are in play this November, six of them held by Democrats, all of whom are seeking re-election. Democrats hold a 10-5 majority on the Legislature.
    “Everything is orchestrated. It is an election year budget,” said county Legislator James Buhrmaster, R-Glenville. He added the early release of the budget — a month ahead of schedule — is an attempt to curry votes from Conservatives in next week’s primary...................>>>>..............>>>>................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....1&Continuation=1

These idiots at the Gazetto don't even know the number of legislatures from each party it's 11-4 KRAT not 10-5. Who's the fact checker over there?

  A typical nonsense story about phantom County savings. Here's how to save money; a 10% across the board layoff except in the Sheriff's Department, end the Downtown library addition happy talk, terminate Metrograft and its insane "plans".

  That will save millions and save the County taxpayer sheeple multi-millions. And nobody from the loyal opposition challenges anything. Not the papeer mistakes not the lies from Ms. Savage. This County is little Albany.

what was the boomers slogan---"dont trust anyone over 30".......early retirement is an easy out----take it and suck it up.....or.....
"just do it...."......the next slogan.....and dont forget....get the government off your back and out of your pocket.....

Quoted from benny salami

These idiots at the Gazetto don't even know the number of legislatures from each party it's 11-4 KRAT not 10-5. Who's the fact checker over there?

  A typical nonsense story about phantom County savings. Here's how to save money; a 10% across the board layoff except in the Sheriff's Department, end the Downtown library addition happy talk, terminate Metrograft and its insane "plans".

  That will save millions and save the County taxpayer sheeple multi-millions. And nobody from the loyal opposition challenges anything. Not the papeer mistakes not the lies from Ms. Savage. This County is little Albany.

Except the sheriff dept....that is very thoughtful of you Salami

why lay off the sheriffs dept???---------wont happen...why?---CONSOLIDATION CONSOLIDATION CONSOLIDATION......

sheriff depot in Duanesburg=Police Czar.........