Cuomo Targets All Long Island School 'Double-Dippers'

ALBANY, N.Y. -- State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began subpoenaing the records of all 124 school districts on Long Island late Tuesday, seeking information on the practice of "double-dipping" by administrators who received state pensions and were then hired for lucrative interim positions, Newsday reported.

The new round of subpoenas to the districts is an expansion of Cuomo's already wide-ranging probe of districts that have listed attorneys as district employees who were also paid lucrative retainers. By being listed as employees, the attorneys were able to receive state pension credits and health benefits, the paper reported.

The new round of subpoenas follows a Newsday story Sunday that reported that at least 40 school administrators receive state pensions and salaries as interim school district employees. Some of the administrators were hired only days after retiring, Newsday reported. Officials credited the Newsday story with initiating the new investigation.

In a letter attached to the subpoenas obtained by Newsday, Cuomo said he "is today launching a separate but related investigation into school district hiring of retired individuals who are receiving public pensions. It appears from recent reports that there is a widespread practice on Long Island of school districts permitting employees to 'double dip,' earning salaries and pensions at the same time. The attorney general's office will now be examining whether this is a proper use of public funds."

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 5/14/08