NoV 18 2014
STATE OF NEW York
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Division oF THE BUDGET
‘Ausanies NY 12224
ANDREW M, Cuomo ROBERT L. MEGNA
‘GoveRNon Dmecron or nix Buber
November 12, 2014
Ms. Barbara Zaron, President
Mr. Joseph Sano, Executive Director
‘The Organization of NYS Management Confidential Employees
5 Pine West Plaza, Suite 513.
Albany, New York 12205-6687
Dear Ms. Zaron and Mr, Sano:
‘Thank you for your recent fetter regarding staffing and pay equity issues for
Management/ Confidential (M/C) employees. As the Director of an organization comprised
entirely of M/C employees, | certainly appreciate your observations on the difficulties facing
these employees,
(Our focus on reorganizing government and creating éfficiencies has led to an overall
decline in the workforce. Agencies are focusing on thelr core missions and are staffing
accordingly, while we aro investing in the consolidation of functions like information technology
and implementing shared services.
As you know, the withholdings that were done in 2009 and 2010 were part of a package
of actions that were taken in order to address the worst fiscal crisis that this State has seen in
decades, ‘These actions were not taken lightly and the sacrifices made by the State's
employees were, crucial fo the State addressing a significant structural budget defilt by
reducing State spending. The recurring actions that were taken then - and the difficult choices
that are made in each budget - have restored fiscal discipline and have enabled us to move
from a $10 billion deficit in 2011 to a projected surplus this year. This surplus now puts us in the
position (0 consider how to addiess M/C compensation going forward,
can assure'you that we are aware of the disparity in pay between M/C omployees and
their unionized counterparts. We are exploring ways to acldress this Issue In the context of the
upcoming Executive Budget and, es always, we are working with all of the State agencies to
‘ensure that they have the staff that they need to meet their agency's mission.
Robert L. Megna