Article on Press and Sun Bulletin Website

[Guest Press Reader]

Last night there was an article on the Press and Sun Bulletin website about the NY Attorney General's Office sending letters to NY schools about some people getting State pensions who shouldn't have---one example was lawyers. The article did not appear in today's paper. Did anyone else see this article on the website? Do you think that could have happened here in Broome County?

[2pelo Honey]

Cuomo probes N.Y. school payments to lawyers, other employees

 

 

ALBANY (AP) -- New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is seeking data from every school district in the state since he found evidence some may have inappropriately extended pension benefits to part-time lawyers, consultants, professionals and others.

 

The letter to more than 700 school and BOCES districts explains when these professionals and other officials shouldn't be classified as employees. Only employees under federal and state law qualify for the pension.

 

The statewide investigation follows Cuomo's recent probes into the arrangments in Westchester County and Long Island districts.

 

He says there's evidence some districts have wrongly classified lawyers and others paid by fees or contracts. He said he will seek to recoup any misspent public dollars.

 

"We have evidence to suggest that this practice has happened in other areas across the state," Cuomo told The Associated Press. "We want to be thorough in our review and therefore we are making this inquiry to all school districts in the state."

 

Cuomo said he will have criminal and civil authority in the case referred to him by the state Education Department.

 

If any illicit arrangements are proven, the hired professionals could be required to repay the state pension system.

 

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll...D=2008803050356