State lawmakers, fearing future municipal bankruptcies, agreed yesterday to a create a sweeping new pension system for most state and local public employees that they estimate would save cash-strapped governments $48 billion over 30 years. The new Read More
Lawmakers took baby steps toward bringing spending restraint and more-rigorous government oversight to the capital on Wednesday by closing most of a $3.2 billion state budget deficit, scaling back pension benefits for new government employees and ove Read More
I gained a whole new perspective on New York's Freedom of Information Law while sitting in on a Friday conference at Albany Law School focusing on public information access in this digital age. Like most journalists, I suspect, I've viewed the adv Read More
Gov. David Paterson has signed into law pension reform legislation that officials say will provide more than $35 billion in long-term savings to New York state taxpayers over the next thirty years. The legislation creates a new Tier V pension leve Read More
A new Tier V pension plan for public employees became a reality Thursday as Gov. David Paterson, accompanied by a slew of lawmakers, signed legislation to reduce the cost of the state's massive retirement system. The new plan, while still generous Read More
It's like a kid staring into a candy store window. The temptation is almost irresistible, especially if you're a little hungry. In the long run, though, it's probably best just to walk away. That's the kind of temptation being faced by cash- Read More
Lawmakers fell short of the budget savings Gov. Paterson wanted - but it didn't stop them from making sure they got their pork-barrel spending. Slipped into the recent budget gap bill was language making it easier for senators to get their grant m Read More
The Common Council on Tuesday night voted to split the duties of retiring Engineering Administrator and Community Development Director Joseph Bernier between Jeff House and Jim Hawver. Each city employee will receive a $5,000 stipend. House, th Read More