Proposed Res. No. 399-A
Resolution calling upon the Mayor of the City of New York to exclude the value of housing and food when calculating military pay pursuant to the Operation Enduring Freedom Extended Benefits Package.
By Council Members Avella, Fidler, Jackson, James, Mealy, Nelson, Recchia Jr., White Jr., Liu, Comrie, Vallone Jr., Weprin, Mendez, Rivera, Vacca, Gentile, Arroyo, Gonzalez, Palma, Gioia, Mark-Viverito, Katz and Oddo
Whereas, The United States is currently engaged in a large-scale military operation in Iraq and Afghanistan called Operation Enduring Freedom; and
Whereas, Many of the brave Americans serving in Operation Enduring Freedom are not full-time military personnel, but rather members of the organized militia, reserve forces or reserve components of the armed forces of the United States who have other civilian jobs; and
Whereas, Pursuant to the New York City Extended Benefits Package, more formally called the Military Pay Reimbursement Agreement For Ordered Military Duty In Operation Enduring Freedom Or Other Ordered Military Duty in Connection With The Events Of September 11, 2001, the City of New York continues to pay salaries and benefits to those employees who temporarily must leave their City assignments to serve our nation in Operation Enduring Freedom; and
Whereas, Because these New York City employees also receive a military salary, they are required pursuant to the Extended Benefits Package to return to the City of New York the lesser of their City salary or the compensation they receive from the military while on active duty; and
Whereas, The Department of Citywide Administrative Services relies upon the method the military employs to calculate the pay package, which includes the value of housing and food, as determined by the military; and
Whereas, The inclusion of such value in the military pay calculation increases the amount that must be reimbursed to the City by these employees; and
Whereas, A fairer and more equitable calculation would be to determine military pay on the basis of salary only; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Mayor of the City of New York to exclude the value of housing and food when calculating military pay pursuant to the Extended Benefits Package.
MB
LS #976
10:45 A.M. 6/26/06