Proposal: Give City Employees 10 more days off

Albany Councilman Glen Casey wants to give some city employees an additional ten days off next year.

The Catch: He doesn't want to pay them for it.

"the idea is for all non union Albany city employees making $55,000 or more to have to take an additional ten days off next year. They would not get paid for it. I want to take what would be between $150,000 and $200,000 dollars in savings and give it to those employees making under 40,000 a raise" says Casey

Casey pitched the idea to Council Members at Mondays meeting while they talked about the cash strapped budget.

"I would also like to take some of that money and put more police officers on the streets or use it for after school programs"

Albany City Employee Harold Van Shoick says he's not in favor of the idea.

"I think most people are living paycheck to paycheck. It's tough now."

Another employee who wished to remain nameless says she makes less than $30,000 and says it would definitly help her out.

"i don't want to see anybody lose work if they need to work but if they're willing to do it, i'm willing to take it"

Casey contends that city employees making more than $55,000 per year have been getting four percent raises every year. Now it's time to give back he says.