By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — A federal judge blocked Gov. David Paterson's proposed furlough of 100,000 workers for one day a week without pay, saying in his decision Friday that the administration must consider other options for improving the state's fiscal condition.
The furloughs proposed by Paterson were expected to save the state $30 million a week and were aimed at closing New York's $9.2 billion budget gap. The legislature had agreed to the furlough plan as part of an emergency spending bill package necessary to keep the state running.
As part of the administration's money-saving plan, several union workers did not receive expected raises on April 1 this year. The judge's decision reenacts these raises.
"I am disappointed by the court's ruling, as it prevents the implementation of State employee furloughs and requires the immediate payment of public employee pay raises," Paterson said in a statement after the judge's decision.
"In light of today's ruling, I call upon Legislative leaders to meet with the public employee union leadership to achieve the workforce savings that we agree must be part of an enacted State budget."
A balanced budget was due April 1 but the governor and legislature have not yet come to an agreement on how to close the gaping deficit.
