The Massachusetts State Senate is not fully on board with an early retirement program proposed by the governor and passed by the House.
Governor Charlie Baker wants to offer thousands of state employees early retirement packages in order to help plug a $1 billion plus budget hole.
Senate President Stan Rosenberg has some reservations:
“You know we have a pretty senior work force and the concern is that as people go out, that we may end up with agencies that don’t have enough employees to do their job.”
Other lawmakers and state officials have raised concerns that an early retirement program could add to the state’s unfunded pension liabilities, which could lower the state’s bond rating.
The Baker administration has said if the Legislature fails to go along with the plan, state employees will be laid off.