Concerns over jobs backfire as hundreds take Nassau buyout

Nearly 500 longtime Nassau County government employees — the majority of essential workers such as 911 centers, public services and public works — will retire through a buyout plan offered by the Blakeman administration, officials said.

The numbers exceeded expectations as a larger than expected number of workers applied for the pension incentive: a cash payment of $2,000 for each year of service. The incentive is available to employees who have at least 10 consecutive years with the council.

As the March 5 deadline for the procurement approaches, concern is growing among labor leaders and Democratic lawmakers that the exodus of skilled workers will add to the workforce and disrupt essential services.

“When experienced public sector workers leave in droves, you feel it very quickly,” said Kris Kalender, president of CSEA Local 830, the city’s largest labor union. “The district owes residents and workers alike, a clear, responsible plan to protect services and the safety of workers and ensure that today’s budget decisions do not result in higher future costs through cuts and job losses.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman pitched the plan as a way to save $27 million in the county’s 2026-27 budget and $30 million annually over the next three years. The final approval was agreed upon by 19 members of the legislature and the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the district’s appointed finance minister.

Employee salaries and benefits make up more than half of the district’s $4.4 billion budget. The district hopes to see savings as senior, long-serving employees are replaced by new, lower-paid employees. The last time the county offered buyout to its employees was in 2012, when then-Republican County Executive Ed Mangano sought to end the job.

Workers from six civil service unions have applied for the latest round of buyouts, with 320 since February 25 from the Civil Service Employees Association, the most affected union. The district began issuing incentives on February 1.

Blakeman, who recently won a second term as the Republican candidate for governor, calls the buyers a “win-win,” saying the retirement plan “allows the county to save tax dollars and reward employees for longer service.”

“We exceeded the estimate and as a result the district will save additional tax dollars,” Blakeman said in a statement to Newsday.

A final figure on the reserves was not yet available, according to officials. The 2026 money saved from this plan would result in spending money on other ways to get out of wages for workers with contractual rights, such as severance pay, which is made up of sick and vacation time, as well as longevity pay, which is a bonus based on years of service.

Danielle Davidson, the police communications manager who oversees 911 operators and police dispatchers, isn’t taking the buy-in and worries she and others will be stretched too thin. Strong job search efforts do not seem to reduce labor shortages and burnout rates due to the complexity of the job.

911 operators and police dispatchers are represented by CSEA and are already about 30 workers short of their contractually mandated 190.

Citizens who call 911 may need to wait longer during an emergency, Davidson said, as calls are answered on a first-come, first-served basis and are prioritized after an operator takes over.

There are 26 new recruits in training but it takes five years to become proficient in 911 operations and only 63 percent of new hires last year.

“We get the first call when someone is excited and worried and they’re at the worst time of their life,” said Davidson, 47, of Mineola, who has been with the department for 23 years. “[The 911 operators] they are burned out from working, they are burned out from working too much time and they are burned out from training too many new people. ”

In addition to the 320 from CSEA, a chart provided by Blakeman management that tracks purchases shows that as of February 25 there were three members of the Inspectors Police Benevolent Association; 32 from the county Detectives’ Association, 37 from the Superior Officers Association, 45 from the Correction Officers Benevolent Association and 55 from the Police Benevolent Association.

The Newsday newspaper previously quoted Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder as saying that he estimated that about 200 police officers would retire in early March to take advantage of the incentive.

Officials said 492 workers – less than 7 percent of the 7,200-strong workforce – submitted their resignations to the council’s human resources department.

Legis. Scott Davis (D-Rockville Center) was among those who expressed concern at the budget hearing about the lack of a hiring plan to fill the upcoming jobs, especially in departments that were already short-staffed.

“Those who are taking [the buyout] they are the ones who have the most knowledge and the most knowledge. I believe there will be a problem in restoring these positions,” said Davis, who said he voted to approve the savings plan. “It’s hard enough to find county employees. What will happen will reduce the services of the residents of the region because you will not have enough people.”