The Legislative Gazette February 9, 2010 Page 3
Senators probe prison supers’ housing
By ANDREW BEAM
Gazette staff writer
T
wo lawmakers are investigating
whether the practice in New York
of providing houses for some
prison superintendents should be placed
under the category of wasteful spending.
Sens. Jeff Klein and Diane Savino have
expressed concerns that the taxpayers are
helping to foot the bill for these homes,
which are located on state-owned, tax-
exempt property.
In January, Klein, D-Brooklyn, and
Savino, D-Staten Island, published a
report detailing their ideas for cutting
spending by the state Department of
Correctional Services, the fourth largest
state prison system in the country. The
report revealed DOCS spent $2.8 billion
in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, with 67
percent allocated to staff.
The report outlines complaints
concerning a lack of administrative budget
cuts over a period of years when spending
has been reduced repeatedly for lower-
level jobs. Due to several prisons being
within close proximity to each other,
the report suggests the centralization of
administrative positions that could save
the state $10 million from DOCS’ $52.5
million administrative budget.
Photo courtesy of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Society
Among the concerns raised in the report
A house in Coxsackie meant for housing a state prison superintendents is one of the houses under investigation by Senators Jeff Klein and Diane Savino. The two
senators are looking to see if some superintendents’ houses, paid for in part by taxpayer money, like this one should be seen as wasteful spending.
is the superintendents’ houses, which are
meant to attract potential administrators. agree with their mission statement of the called the houses “an abundance in doesn’t include property taxes, while the
The budget for maintaining these homes protection and supervision of inmates.” administration costs” and unnecessary. regular monthly mortgage payment is
is set by the state’s Division of the She stressed that superintendents Also included in the report is a picture $1,278. These totals assuming utilities
Budget based on its location, including should be payed the same as other of one of the homes located at Coxsackie are paid for by the state.
its proximity to a city, as well as the employees working in prisons. Prison in Greene County that, according DOCS spokesman Erik Kriss said most
house’s condition. New York State Correctional Officers to the document, has a market value of occupants either pay part or all of the
“This benefit does not meet the need and Police Benevolent Association $229,000. The Coxsackie superintendent
of [DOCS],” Savino said. “It doesn’t
See Prison on page 25
Legislative Representative Chris Leo pays $835.15 a month in rent, which
Lawsuit asks court to declare MTA
Gov: Budget
payroll tax unconstitutional
deficit now
By KARLA CRUZ
tops $8 Bil.
Gazette staff writer
T
he owner of a small transportation
company on Long Island is VALERIE BAUMAN
arguing that it is not only unfair The Associated Press
he has to pay a payroll tax that benefits
a competitor of his — the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority — but that its T
he pressure to find new ways
to close New York’s budget gap
mounted last Wednesday after
adoption was unconstitutional. Gov. David A. Paterson announced that
William Schoolman, president of the projected deficit for the upcoming
Hampton Luxury Liner and Classic fiscal year has grown $750 million to
Coach, a luxury coach bus service that more than $8 billion.
operates between Manhattan and various “The money simply isn’t there,”
locations in Suffolk County, filed a Paterson said.
lawsuit Dec. 14 in state Supreme Court The new fiscal year begins April 1.
in Suffolk County after having to pay Paterson plans to outline his proposals
$2,500 in payroll taxes in 2009 for the today to close the projected $8.2 billion
MTA fund. shortfall. Until then, he isn’t releasing
Gov. David A. Paterson in May any details.
signed into law legislation that requires The Legislature,
employers in the MTA’s service area to which has been holding
pay the payroll taxes. Lawmakers said budget hearings, would
the tax was needed to help bring MTA have to agree to any
out of a $1.8 billion deficit. cuts or revenue hikes.
AP photo
“New York state is very unfriendly to
A Long Island businessman has sued the MTA over a payroll tax he says is unconstitutional.
State Comptroller
businesses. It really is outrageous what Thomas DiNapoli said
Paterson
the Legislature did,” said Schoolman. Schoolman’s lawsuit lists six causes Section 6 of the Constitution, which the governor’s proposed budget relies
“They passed an illegal law.” of action, and five of them are claims of states: “… no appropriations shall be on unrealistic revenue projections and
The Metropolitan Commuter constitutional violations. made except by separate bills each for a leading lawmakers questioned the
Transportation Mobility Tax affects The suit alleges the Legislature failed single object or purpose.” governor’s numbers last Wednesday.
employers, including schools, hospitals to the pass the payroll tax law by the In addition to the MTA payroll tax, Paterson said the recession and smaller
and people who are self-employed, in the two-thirds vote required for legislation the legislation amended the Vehicle and and fewer bonuses on Wall Street and in
New York City boroughs and Rockland, affecting property and the appropriation Traffic Law to require learners’ permits the financial services sector resulted in less
Putnam, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, of money for local government: It passed and driving license applicants in the revenue. “Financial sector bonuses aren’t
Dutchess and Westchester counties. The in the Senate with 60 percent of the vote MTA transportation district to pay a going to bail us out this time,” he said.
tax amounts to 0.34 percent of every 1 and in the Assembly with 52 percent. supplemental fee of one dollar every The state took in less money than
percent of their payroll. The suit also claims the bill passed six months their learners’ permit or projected through a tax on people making
The 12 counties make up the Metropolitan with more than one appropriation, which
Commuter Transportation District. is unconstitutional under Article VII,
See Payroll on page 25
See Deficit on page 25
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