By Scott M. Davis
On Jan. 26, the Nassau County Legislature voted unanimously to approve the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for union members with more than 10 consecutive years of full-time county employment. Participants will receive a lump sum payment of $2,000 for every year of that service.
Those who want to take advantage of the program must do so by March 5. The county executive retains the authority to extend the VSIP period for up to 90 days, and may defer an employee’s participation for up to a year if his or her departure would undermine the county’s ability to perform essential government functions.
The Corrections Officers Benevolent Association, the Nassau County Detectives Association, the Inspectors Police Benevolent Association, the Police Benevolent Association, the Superior Officers Association and Civil Service Employees Association Local 830 have all signed agreements to offer this incentive to their members.
According to the experts at the county Office of Legislative Budget Review, as many as 3,401 union members in the county’s 7,585-person workforce are eligible, thanks to their 10-plus consecutive years of service. While the county administration estimates that roughly 40 percent will accept the offer, early projections suggest that many prospective retirees will come from a pool of 1,332 eligible workers across all bargaining units who have more than 10 years of service and are over age 55.
Within that group, there are 123 members of COBA, 75 from the PBA, 71 from SOA, 40 from DAI and 24 from IPBA. The 999 CSEA members are employed in a variety of county departments, including 192 in the Police Department, 174 in the Department of Social Services, 150 in Public Works, 50 in the Health Department and 43 in Parks, Recreations and Museums.
The projected annual savings in salaries in the 55-and-over subset are an estimated $27 million to $36.5 million. Initial payouts will be funded by $39.9 million set aside in the county’s operating budget, and any sums in excess of that allocation will be drawn from reserves.
Whether responding to 911 calls, protecting children and families from abuse and neglect, maintaining our infrastructure or beautifying our parks and open spaces, each of these departments and their dedicated staff members provide essential and, in some cases, life-saving services that cannot be undermined.
One of the most important of these is Nassau’s Department of Social Services, which continues to experience chronic understaffing while being tasked with providing essential services to our most vulnerable residents. Additionally, many of these positions, and the caseloads they handle, provide the county with much-needed state and/or federal revenue in the form of reimbursements for the work they do. In other words, fewer employees could lead to less revenue, thereby reducing the savings the VSIP could achieve.
As a fiduciary of the county, I am well aware that affordability is one of the top concerns for county residents. I applaud the pursuit of meaningful, long-term cost savings whenever those opportunities arise, especially when those savings can provide a measure of financial relief to our residents and also serve as once-in-a-career financial benefits for those who have devoted years of service to the people of Nassau County. That’s why I voted to approve the VSIP — but we must move forward responsibly.
This program has the very real potential to create staffing challenges, because many of those who are eligible for it are the most knowledgeable and experienced in their respective fields. Additionally, several county departments that will be impacted by the VSIP are already understaffed and stretched thin.
There must be proactive planning and thoughtful implementation of the program to preserve public safety and maintain the quality of services our residents pay for and rely on, and it would be prudent to have more than an ill-defined promise to backfill positions as needed. The county workforce already has 312 vacancies, and if projections for 40 percent acceptance hold true, that number would soar to 845.
Specifically, the county administration must have a concrete plan for addressing vacancies. The Legislature should be regularly updated on staffing numbers in all affected county departments, which will help us address any potential concerns proactively.
Proceeding with caution and operating transparently will help to ensure that the buyout program achieves its desired goal of delivering cost savings without diminishing essential county services.
Scott M. Davis, of Rockville Centre, represents Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District.
