Republicans Call for Delaying Longevity Payments

HARTFORD — Republicans today said that the millions of dollars in longevity bonuses due to thousands of state employees April 1 should be delayed given the state’s $500 million budget deficit.

Twice a year the state pays out longevity payments to employees who have worked for at least 10 years in the state system. Bonuses for unionized employees are included in collective bargaining but House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., said thousands of other employees have their longevity payments determined by statute which could be changed by the legislature the next time it is in session.

“At a time when the state is hundreds of millions of dollars in deficit and critical programs such as education and social services are being eyed for cuts and non-profits are struggling to stay open, we cannot afford these pay bonuses. In some cases they run in the tens of thousands of dollars,’’ Cafero said.

He said legislation to delay the payments could be offered before April 1. He noted that attempts to curtail the payments have been made in the past. The state’s deficit grows larger everyday without any significant cuts, the situation is even more dire. Cafero said. Cafero said that cutting back on the payments must be part of the overall deficit mitigation plan that the legislature must take up as soon as possible.

Republicans first proposed the elimination of the bonuses last year. The highest bonus reported was more than $24,000 for the CSU chancellor.

Cafero said he hopes that the overall issue of bonuses for state employees can be dealt with to include unionized workers. “Those covered by collective bargaining must be dealt with fairly at the bargaining table,’’ Cafero said. “However, the legislature can act now to cut spending and reduce our deficit wherever we can find savings,’’ Cafero said.

Last year the bonuses cost the state of Connecticut nearly $43 million for thousands of employees, according to reports. Union bonuses were capped at just over $1,000 while non-union bonuses reached a maximum of $24,000 based on salary and service time.