Monday, April 4, 2011

Senator Schiavoni Debunks DAS Memo Again


Columbus – State Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Canfield) is calling the Department of Administrative Services’ Senate Bill 5 memo, which the agency re-released today, a flawed analysis that inflates potential savings to local governments.

“The memo fails to calculate any additional costs to the state that will be a result of this legislation,” said Senator Schiavoni. “It does not take into account the inevitable cost of litigation or any cost related to implementing the performance-based pay system and other new un-funded state mandates.”

The memo claims that the state would have saved more than $75 million in 2010 by eliminating Step Movements for state workers. The memo neglects to point out that in the current biennial budget (HB1) there was a step freeze that already saved the state this money. Through the existing collective bargaining process, public employees have already made this concession.

“I find it ironic that DAS continuously cites cost savings that were achieved through collective bargaining as a reason to take away workers rights,” said Senator Schiavoni. “Collective bargaining has proven itself to be a valuable tool for saving state funds. It has been part of the solution, not the problem.”

The DAS memo does not factor in that not all local employees receive step and longevity pay like some state workers. Therefore, these calculations are flawed, and can not be added to the overall projected savings.

In addition, a Legislative Service Commission fiscal analysis on SB 5 concluded that there was not enough information available to provide accurate savings amounts.

The Caucus


Minority Leader Eric H. Kearney - Cincinnati - 9th District
Assistant Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni - Canfield - 33rd District
Minority Whip Nina Turner - Cleveland - 25th District
Assistant Minority Whip Edna Brown - Toledo - 11th District
Senator Tom Sawyer - Akron - 28th District
Senator Charleta B. Tavares - Columbus - 15th District
Senator Shirley Smith - Cleveland - 21st District
Senator Michael J. Skindell - Cleveland - 23rd District
Senator Lou Gentile - Steubenville - 30th District
Senator Capri S. Cafaro - Hubbard - 32nd District

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