By Shane LaVigne, LaVigne Strategies

Budget Deal Update

This week the Legislature, with bipartisan support, passed a $325 billion state budget aimed at addressing a projected $12 billion deficit. Rather than deep program cuts, lawmakers relied heavily on internal borrowing, deferrals, and reserve withdrawals to close the gap. While the agreement rejected the Governor’s proposed salary freeze for state workers, most raises remain deferred and bargaining authority remains with the administration. It’s important to note that this is a two-party agreement between the Senate and Assembly—the Governor has not yet agreed to the deal. There is a strong likelihood that he may seek changes. This means the budget may continue to evolve, both as the Governor engages with the Legislature and as the state awaits additional clarity on potential federal funding or economic shifts. Multiple iterations of the state budget are likely in the months ahead.

State Agency Vacancies and Workload Pressure

The May Revision outlines a plan to eliminate roughly 10,000 vacant state positions—a number of which fall within CSLEA’s Unit 7 classifications. These reductions significantly increase the burden on existing staff who are already carrying unsustainable workloads due to long-standing vacancy rates. Beyond operational strain, these cuts will further hinder recruitment and retention—making it more difficult to attract qualified candidates and retain experienced personnel in critical public safety roles. CSLEA has lobbied fervently for more resources to support recruitment and retention of officers and was instrumental in preventing many of these positions from being swept entirely. We continue to push for transparency, long-term workforce investment, and staffing strategies that support both the safety of our communities and the well-being of our members.