Fiscal Reforms Needed in Albany

While New York’s fiscal problems are not quite as bad as California’s or Illinois’, they are very serious and among the worst in the nation.

Some of the key problems that Albany must have the courage to address, if future generations are to survive in our state, are these: (a) pension reform-- either moving to a defined contribution system or, if defined benefit is to be kept, then requiring public employees to pay half the costs and limit the taxpayers share to 5% of salaries; (b) healthcare costs of public employees must also be borne much more by the employees—at least 35%; (c) certain laws, such as Wicks Law and the Triborough Amendment of the Taylor Law need to be modified so as to level the negotiating field with unions; (d) reform tenure, so that our schools can keep their best teachers, instead of being forced to lay off young excellent teachers.

The question is: will our elected legislators and governor have the courage to do what is fair and just for both public employees and the taxpayers? For 40 years, NY politicians in both parties have given in to the unions who in turn help re-elect 98% of these politicians. NY’s mounting debt crisis, coupled with its record as the highest tax state in the nation, must be addressed now. The problem can no longer be pushed down the road to our children and grandchildren.