New York Faces $9 Billion Budget Gap; Up To 15,000 Jobs May Be Cut

While there have been conflicting reports on an exact number, one thing seems likely: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will be cutting thousands of state employees.

The state is currently facing a $9 billion budget gap, and some speculators, such as the International Business Times, are saying that the state may be forced to lay of up to 15,000 employees.

Spokesman for the Civil Services Employees Association, Stephen Madarasz is reluctant to make a statement on the matter until a number is finalized.

“We’re not going to respond to speculation at this point,” said Madarasz. “When he has a proposal to make, we’ll respond to it appropriately. Abstract numbers without any context don’t tell us much.

The budget proposal will be revealed in early February. Currently, Cuomo has proposed a one-year salary freeze for all state employees in addition to 20 percent cuts across all state agencies.