In the upcoming fiscal year 2025 state budget negotiations, several law enforcement agencies acrossNew York are vying for the inclusion of a 20-year pension plan.
The New York State Park Police, SUNY police, forest rangers and environmental police have expressed concerns over losing staff due to their pension, benefits and pay not being competitive with the majority of law enforcement agencies in the state.
Currently, these entities make up the 3% of law enforcement in New York without a 20-year pension, a situation that has persisted for years.
ThePolice Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA) has long advocated for a change in legislation to rectify this issue, with successive bills passing the Legislature but facing vetoes from Governor Kathy Hochul.
James McCartney, president of the PBA, called for more competitive benefits and pay to retain specialized officers.
According to McCartney, Governor Hochul wrote in her veto memo that the negotiations should take place during the budgeting process.
The union leader stressed that the pension wouldalleviate recruiting, retention and public safety concerns faced by the agencies.
“We’re trying to get to the norm for a recruiting tool,” McCartney said. “We are highly sought (sic) for our specialized skills, which costs the state hundreds of thousands of dollars every year for our members to be poached to go to other municipalities for higher pay, that also has a 20-year pension.”
The PBA is now collaborating with lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate to incorporate the 20-year pension plan into their one-house budgets.
Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, a Democrat and sponsor of the 20-year pension legislation, argued that these agencies play a crucial role in their respective venues, such as parks, forests and colleges.
“It is time to put this in the budget and fund it. It is critical,” Woerner asserted.
The absence of the 20-year pension plan in Governor Hochul’s initial budget proposal has prompted lawmakers to explore alternative measures.
Concerns have been raised about the impact on public safety, as highlighted by the recent abduction of a 9-year-old girl in Moreau Lake State Park.
Some parks had their regular patrols replaced by “response-only” state police, prompting calls for the reinstatement of park police patrols to ensure a proactive approach to safety.
“They would know that park police are doing regular surveys of what’s going on in the park. It would discourage someone from preying on young girls in the park because they know law enforcement might show up,” Woerner explained.
As negotiations unfold, the fate of the 20-year pension plan for these law enforcement entities hangs in the balance, with both the PBA and supportive lawmakers urging its inclusion to address staffing concerns and enhance public safety.
