Wolfe resolution opposes shut down of workers’ comp center
- October
- 28
County Legislator Alden Wolfe, D-Suffern, has sponsored a resolution to express concern and opposition to the state Workers’ Compensation Board’s plan to close 11 of its 30 customer service centers around New York, including the one in Rockland.
The shut down looms as state agencies seek to trim their budgets under orders from Gov. David Paterson. The state faces a massive deficit due to the slowed economy and is working to respond to the revenue shortfall.
Wolfe and the 14 other legislators present during its general meeting Thursday unanimously approved the resolution, addressed to Paterson, on the planned service center reductions.
“Injured workers are already suffering financial hardship and should not have to bear the burden of added costs,” Wolfe stated. “Moreover, the closures won’t save state taxpayers any money, as the board’s operations are funded by assessments against insurance carriers. The insurance companies will be the only beneficiaries of the closings.”
Wolfe concluded, “Cutting the costs of the insurance companies, at the expense of those the system was designed to assist, is wrong and burdensome. Furthermore, injured workers may be unable to pursue their compensation claims if the service centers are too distant and will need to turn to other public assistance, a burden transferred to the local taxpayer.”
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