CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Increase in health care benefits backed
Legislators give OK as talks continue
LITTLE VALLEY — As contract talks continue, the Cattaraugus County Legislature on Wednesday agreed to increase health care benefits for most county general and supervisory employees, part-time workers and elected officials.
The Legislature also scheduled a Nov. 12 public hearing on several laws to increase wages by 3 percent.
The benefits package in the county’s self-insured plan applies to unionized county employees through 2011. Dave Moshier, human resources director, said unionized employees voted last week in favor of the packages but negotiations have not been completed for health packages provided to the sheriff’s supervisory and corrections employees.
The series of resolutions affecting the benefits and salaries were provided to lawmakers just hours before the session by a negotiating team made up of the Labor Relations Committee and county administration, including Moshier. Moshier outlined the terms in caucuses before the Legislature convened, and the negotiating team asked for the Legislature’s immediate consideration.
“We are following through with our commitment to present these today,” said Moshier, adding that the first measure — authorizing Legislature Chairman Crystal J. Abers, RSouth Dayton, to sign the agreement — had to be acted upon as soon as possible.
Bucky McClune, D-Salamanca, said he had no problem with the agreement but objected to a vote without full committee discussion and more time to read the resolutions.
The health benefits package will be attached to contracts that expired in 2007 and are still being negotiated. While all the details were not immediately available Wednesday, the package increases the county share of co-payments, deductibles and payroll contributions, effective Oct. 1.
A retroactive payment covering Jan. 1 to Oct. 1 is part of the deal and will be made to workers at some point in the future. It is roughly equal to a 3 percent salary increase for that period.
Budget Officer Sandra Ponczkowski calculated the value of that retroactive sum for the general bargaining unit workers at about $806,684. If the remaining bargaining units also agree to the same terms for retroactive payments, the figure could surpass $1 million.
Public hearings were set on proposed 2008 salaries for he following county staffers: county administrator, $83,814; director of information services, $72,828; public health director, $71,276; real property tax services director, $54,862; two elections commissioners $54,862.
Those hearings will be held at 3 p. m. Nov. 12 in the legislative hearing room on the third floor of County Center.
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