Senate Adopts Budget

SENATE ADOPTS BUDGET

The budget battle is over and the best that can be said is it could have been worse.

The Senate on Saturday night OK'd the tough-economic state budget on a vote of 29-20. The Senate added no amendments, so the budget now goes to the governor. The Legislature adjourns tomorrow after wrapping up other business.

Thus ends one of the most horrific budget battles in state history, as everyone suffered through a $9 billion budget deficit brought on by what Sen. Rosa Franklin called the "global economic meltdown."

The budget OK'd by the Senate saves institutions, hatcheries, parks and GA-U. But it funds studies that could lead to closure of institutions. Lack of revenue could still close six hatcheries. An amendment to take the target off Green Hill School and Maple Lane School in Juvenile Rehabilitation failed. The amendment by Sen. Dan Swecker of the 20th District would have expanded the study of possible JRA closures to not just focus on Maple Lane and Green Hill; merging the two different populations would have "catastrophic results," Swecker said.

This is a budget you heavily contributed to with more than $1 billion in sacrifices:

Economics (pay raises, adjustments, etc.) - $140,000,000

Pension Contributions - $448,633,000

Health Insurance - $200,000,000

Layoffs (4,000 FTEs) - $240,000,000

TOTAL LOST: -$1,028,633,000

Health insurance would go to bargaining by the Federation-led Super Coalition of all state employee unions to preserve the 88/12 premium share split.

The Senate defeated an amendment proposed by Sen. Joseph Zarelli of the 18th District that would have added even more potential costs to your health benefits by another 2 percent.

Sen. Karen Fraser of the 22nd District said it wasn't fair to add further costs when state employees on average lag 13 percent behind prevailing rates.

(The Public Employees Benefits Board will determine what point-of-service costs, such as office visit co-pays, will increase.)

The Senate also rejected Zarelli's proposed amendment that would block your step increases.

And the budget will bring up to 7,000 layoffs-meaning agency-by-agency, institution-by-institution negotiations on the effect of those layoffs to try to cut the number of our members who have to lose their jobs. The budget encourages agencies to implement furloughs and other reductions to fill their quota of budget cuts. That will trigger more negotiations on that effect.

So, it could have been worse. Now we roll up our sleeves and keep fighting.