New York City Council Passes Police Disability Pension Changes

In a hasty process on Wednesday, the New York City Council rushed to pass a series of changes to the disability pension benefits awarded to relatively new city policeman.

From the New York Times:

The council voted 31 to 17 with three abstentions to approve Mr. de Blasio’s proposal, which is aimed at giving relatively new employees benefits closer to those of officers and firefighters hired before 2009, when David A. Paterson, then the governor, vetoed a bill that would have extended the same benefits to all workers.

[…]

Beginning officers and firefighters hurt in the line of duty currently get just 50 percent of their final salaries in disability benefits, which could add up to less than $10,000 annually, or $27 a day. Under Mr. de Blasio’s proposal, they would get 75 percent of a higher base, if they are collecting Social Security disability insurance because they are unable to work. If they are able to work and do not qualify for Social Security, they would get 50 percent of their salaries.

In testimony to the Council on Wednesday morning, Dean Fuleihan, the city budget director, explained that the mayor’s plan would cost the city $105 million through the 2019 fiscal year, compared with $400 estimated under the unions’ plan.

As noted above, the reforms increase disability pensions for newer police and fireman. But union officials are unhappy because the reform package was rushed to a vote, likely to avoid voting on another – more expensive – proposal put together by union officials.

Photo by Tim (Timothy) Pearce via Flickr CC License