In an effort to get the county Board of Legislators to enact legislation that would require non-union personnel to make a meaningful contribution to their health care costs, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today proposed a variation of his original plan to address a concern about a potential “brain drain.”
“One of my priorities since taking office has been to get a firm grip around the county’s ever-increasing health care costs, particularly because we project a deficit in our overall county budget of $166 million for next year,” said Astorino. “I urge the Board of Legislators to act quickly to adopt this revised plan. It is fair to taxpayers and it is fair to employees.”
The amended plan maintains Astorino’s original proposal that non-represented management contribute 15 percent to the cost of their health care. An exception is made for current employees who have more than 30 years of service to Westchester County. Astorino’s variation addresses a concern from both legislators and District Attorney Janet DiFiore that her experienced staff would leave public service under prior proposals.
DiFiore praised the revised proposal, saying, “As district attorney, I have consistently supported efforts to save taxpayer dollars without compromising public safety, and in this regard I am pleased to support the revised proposal relating to health care contributions announced today by County Executive Rob Astorino.” Astorino’s proposal would apply to more than 400 non-union employees in county government. Only 28 long-term employees would be exempted.
It is Astorino’s intention that all county employees will eventually have to make similar contributions to the cost of their health care. However, this can only be accomplished through union negotiations.
Westchester County is one of only four counties in the state that does not have its employees contribute to the cost of health care premiums. Health insurance premiums have increased from $68 million to $149 million in the last 10 years. Premiums are expected to increase 8 to 13 percent in 2011.
In January, Astorino first proposed that the non-represented employees be charged 15 percent of the cost of their health insurance. Instead of acting on that proposal, the Board of Legislators approved an alternative, tiered plan that Astorino found unacceptable and vetoed.
Astorino will send his revised legislation to the Board of Legislators next week, and urged the board to act promptly on it – as well as on other cost-saving initiatives he has proposed to deal with next year’s projected deficit.
“The sooner we implement these proposals, the greater the savings will be,” Astorino said. “We need these savings to reduce the looming deficit.”
The county executive’s other proposals include an incentive to employees who voluntarily leave county service and limits on the amount of sick leave and accumulated vacation time that employees can cash out when they leave county employment. “This is a step we need to take together – both branches of government – in order to address the budget gap we face in 2011 and beyond,” Astorino said.
Legislator John Testa of Peekskill, who served on the legislators’ Special Committee on Health Insurance Savings voiced his support for the amended plan. “It is an uncomplicated plan that yields long-term savings to taxpayers and addresses the district attorney’s and legislators’ concerns,” Testa said. “It’s time the county board adopted this plan.”