Today’s news about criminal charges against five current and former MTA employees for alleged overtime fraud is a reminder that New Yorkers deserve to know how government spends every dollar. This investigation likely would have never happened if the Empire Center hadn’t blown the whistle on the MTA’s overtime spending in April 2019. In fact, three of the five individuals named in the criminal complaint were highlighted in previous Empire Center publications. The Empire Center has sued the MTA twice since 2015 to make sure payroll information gets disclosed to the public, most recently to preserve public access to portions of the MTA Police payroll.
However, fraudulent overtime is just the tip of the iceberg. The MTA’s COVID-driven revenue losses shouldn’t conceal the fact that the Authority already faced runaway personnel costs. The MTA’s overtime spending has spiked in recent years because of inefficient union contracts, and despite a COVID-driven drop in revenues, the MTA gave most subway workers raises in May.
The MTA’s largest union is already advocating for tax increases, including higher gas taxes, and the Authority’s leadership is seeking a federal bailout. But these criminal charges are proof that the MTA, and New York state officials, need to do their fair share to cut costs before asking New Yorkers to pay more.
The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.
You may also like
Pair of NYCHA Plumbers Paid $200,000+ in OT Last Year
Two New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) plumbers and an electrician each collected over $200,000 in overtime during New York City’s 2021 fiscal year Read More
Climate Legislation Could Cost New York Half a Trillion Dollars, New Report Finds
An ambitious 2019 climate change law adopted by the Legislature could cost as much as $510 billion while yielding benefits worth several hundred million less Read More
Playgrounds, Pools and More: Latest List of Lawmaker Pork Projects
A total of $104 million in grant awards was steered to 305 local projects between April and October by DASNY Read More
Seven Steps to Reverse New York’s Backward Trajectory
The Empire Center for Public Policy today released a slate of policy recommendations that would make New York State a better place to live and work. Read More
New York State Owes Nearly $360 Billion in Retiree Health Care Debt
New York governments at all levels owe a combined $359.7 billion in debt to pay retired public employees health benefits, according to a new Empire Center report. Read More
Most Long Island Educators Paid at Least $100,000 Last Year
18% of all public-school teachers and administrators employed by school districts outside New York City were paid over $100,000 last year Read More
Newest Pensions for Retirees of Police and Fire Careers Average $86,852
Full career police and firemen (those serving 20 or more years) enrolled in New York’s Police and Fire Retirement System (PRFRS) who became eligible to start receiving a pension during 2020 are eligible for an average award of $86,852 annually. Read More
Statement on the release of new COVID-19 Death Toll data
The Cuomo administration left out many people who died without a test during the early weeks of the pandemic Read More
Enjoying our work? Sign up for email alerts on our latest news and research.
Together, we can make New York a better place to live and work!