CSEA to Fight Off Comptroller Weitzman’s New Health Insurance Plan

MINEOLA- A July 19th press conference at Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman’s office at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, outlined a 5 part plan for the county to save money on health insurance costs to county employees and retirees.

Weitzman’s plan includes participant contributions, change in benefit plans, elimination of all duplicate health benefits, increasing the level of reimbursement in the buy-back program, and establishing a wellness program.

Any of these plans would have to be negotiated by the county with CSEA, and all the other Nassau County labor unions. However, Local 830 strongly opposes any plans to pay into health insurance. Local 830 President Laricchiuta appeared both on News 12 and LI News Tonight on July 19 to give the CSEA side of the story, as well as being quoted in Newsday. He went on to say, “County workers take their jobs for the great benefits and that is by no means anything that we will be giving up.”

On August 6th, Weitzman gave his mid-year report on the county’s budget, reporting that he expects the county to break even in 2007, or to have a small surplus of around $5 million. But the impending 2008 budget gaps means the county will need to look for ways to save money whether it be generating more revenue or depleting services.

Laricchiuta said, “I understand that the Comptroller is trying to save money, but at the same time, we can’t balance the budget on the backs of the lowest paid workers in the county.”