Written by Michael Moran on November 20, 2009 – 6:58 am
The Albany Times-Union’s Rick Karlin reports that the number of state workers taking Gov. Paterson’s $20,000 buyout offer to trim the state payroll to balance the budget is falling far short of what is needed.
He writes: “The plan was originally set to end this month, but so far only 1,089 people have signed up — well short of the 4,500 workers that state officials originally estimated would take the buyouts.
As a result, Paterson’s Budget Division is once again urging state agency heads to look high and low for people who may be able to retire or leave with the severance package.
Initially, state workers had to put in for the buyout by the end of August, and only after they received permission from their bosses. They now have until Dec. 22, and must be off the payroll by Jan. 20.
“It has come to our attention that thousands of employees expressed an interest in participating in the program but certain agencies chose not to accept these employees into the program,” Budget Director Robert Megna wrote in a letter that went out to agency commissioners Wednesday. “Accordingly, you should recanvass your employees for interest in the program.”