COs Want NYTo Cut Bureaucrats

While the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) is saying that there are cuts to their administration in Gov. David Paterson's 2010-2011 executive budget, union representatives say that's not the case.

As opposition grows to Gov. Paterson's plan to close Ogdensburg Correctional Facility as well as three other minimum security prisons, one argument made by the New York State Correctional Officer and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) and area legislators like Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell and Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine is to cut DOCS administration in Albany for some real cost savings.

In fact, Mrs. Russell has called for a cut to administration at Building Two in Albany of 20 percent, saving the state almost $15 million.

NYSCOPBA officials have said the governor is proposing no cuts at all to the bureaucracy in Albany for next year.

That's not true, according to Erik J. Kriss, DOCS director of Public Information.

"Governor Paterson's 2010-11 Executive Budget would reduce spending in every area of DOCS. Administration expenditures would drop by 1.8 percent, from $25.1 million in 2009-10 to $24.6 million in 2010-11, more than the proposed drop of 1.2 percent in Security ($1.462 billion to $1.445 billion) and more than 1.7 percent decrease in Health, $366.8 million to $360.5 million," stated Mr. Kriss.

However, Randy Page, NYSCOPBA Northern Region Vice President, said that the 1.8 percent, or $500,000 cut in Administration, is the "amount of money that will be saved if the prisons close" and not actual cuts to administrative staff. He stands by previous statements declaring that administration is not being cut.

For instance, if OCF closes, none of the administrators will lose their jobs, according to Mr. Page.

"Bottom line, there are no administration cuts. Not one superintendent or deputy or captain will be removed. They will still be in the system," said Mr. Page if OCF closes.

Mr. Kriss said that over the years, DOCS has cut administrative staff in Albany at triple the rate in the reduction of correctional officers since April 2007.

"At that time, we had 865 employees working in Central Office. Now, we have 783. That's a 9.4 percent reduction," said Mr. Kriss.

Mr. Kriss added that the decrease in Central Office staffing occurred during a time when court and legislative mandates required DOCS to vastly expand and enhance the programs and services it must provide for inmates with mental illness and incarcerated sex offenders.

"Which in turn required us to add 23 positions in Central Office to oversee, manage and implement those programs," said Mr. Kriss.

Mr. Page said that DOCS has civilian staff and captains to oversee mandated programs for inmates at the facilities and that the Central Office employees in Albany are not needed.

Mr. Page contends that according to quarterly reports received by NYSCOPBA, administration are showing increases to staff and no cuts at all. "There's an excess of 900 people working there," said Mr. Page.

, "I don't believe anybody has had any cuts. If they are cuts, why aren't they showing up on their reports?"