ALBANY: Office costs add up

By Mark Scheer<br><a href="mailto:scheerm@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Mark</a>

As state lawmakers search for solutions to New York’s budgetary woes, it appears as though they might have some luck finding a few stray dollars in their own offices.

A new report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy shows the state’s 212 lawmakers spent nearly $111 million to cover rent, staff, telephone bills and other office-related expenses during the six-month period ending March 31.

The Empire Center, which pulled its data from budget books made available by the Legislature twice each year, found that the average state senator spent $362,877 on maintaining an office, while the average cost in the Assembly was $168,534.

Both houses combined have set aside $219 million to cover their own expenses in fiscal year 2008-09.

“I think, with the state facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, maybe it’s time for the state legislators to start looking at how they spent $219 million on themselves,” said Lise Bang-Jensen, a senior policy analyst for the Empire Center, a fiscally conservative think tank.

Among state lawmakers representing Niagara County, Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore, had the highest office expenses during the six-month period. Schimminger’s office account totaled $333,146, placing him third highest among the state’s 150 Assembly members.

On the Senate side, Newfane Republican George Maziarz spent the most on office-related items with a total six-month bill of $345,653. Maziarz ranked 31st on the Empire Center’s list of spending for all 62 state senators.

Beng-Jensen said senators tend to have larger districts and therefore greater office needs.

Other factors also come into play with veteran lawmakers like Schimminger and Maziarz.

Both men are members of legislative committees which, according to Beng-Jensen, entitles them to additional staff.

Schimminger and Maziarz also find themselves well positioned to receive more finds at budget time because they are members of the majority party in their respective houses of state government.

The Empire Center found members of the Majority in the Republican-controlled Senate spent an average of 62 percent more on their legislative offices during the six month period than minority Democrats. In the Assembly, where Democrats hold the edge, members of the majority spent 33 percent more than their counterparts in the minority. The Senate’s 32 Republican senators spent $445,904 on average compared to the $274,316 average among Senate Democrats. In the 150-member Assembly, Democratic members spent $181,078 on average while Republicans in the Assembly minority spent an average of $135,982.

“You certainly can see that is pays to be in the majority in both houses,” Bang-Jensen said.

Schimminger has two offices — one in Kenmore and one in Albany. He said he currently has nine staff members and would consider making cuts in office expenses if that is the direction members of the Assembly chose to go as they consider additional budget cuts this year.

“If the Assembly shrinks staff funding then, I too, as one of 150 members of the Assembly, would certainly consider shrinking staff or salary reductions,” he said.

Maziarz has offices in Wheatfield, Brockport and Albany and 11 people on his current staff. Maziarz said he has already taken steps to reduce costs wherever possible, including locating one satellite office at a rent-free location at the State University at Brockport. In addition, Maziarz said he has seven available staff positions that he has not filled and does not intend to under the circumstances facing the state.

“We try to realize as much savings as we can,” he said.

Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a Democrat from New York City, topped the spending list on the Assembly side with total expenditures of $402,775. Former Majority Leader Joseph Bruno ranked first in the Senate with total expenditures of $607,231.

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, whose district includes the Town of Somerset, was the next highest local member on the Assembly list, coming in at No. 88 with total expenditures of $140,368. James Hayes, representative of the 148th Assembly District which includes the Town of Pendleton, came in at No. 97 with expenses totaling $138,248. Both Assembly members were followed by Lewiston Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte at No. 106 with total expenditures of $134,067 and Lockport Assemblyman Mike Cole at No. 120 with $128,343 in total expenditures.

Sen. Antoine Thompson, D-Niagara Falls, ranked 54th in the Senate with total expenditures of $238,501.

DelMonte, who has two full-time and three part-time staffers for her Niagara Falls and Albany offices, conceded that in light of the state’s current financial situation, lawmakers may be forced to make some adjustments of their own in the future.

“I wouldn’t expect everyone else to take a cut and the Legislature not to take a cut also,” she said.

Contact reporter Mark Scheer at 282-2311, ext. 2250.