New York governor may slash up to 15,000 state jobs

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo may consider eliminating up to 15,000 state workers in a bid to reduce the state's $9 billion budget gap.

The job cuts would involve a broad spectrum of areas, including clerks, state troopers and park rangers.

Such a reduction in the workforce would also be accompanied by significant cuts in Medicaid and education spending, according to a report in the New York Times.

Labor unions will undoubtedly roar with disapproval over such severe job cuts, although they have so far remained silent.

“We’re not going to respond to speculation at this point. When he has a proposal to make, we’ll respond to it appropriately,” said Stephen Madarasz, a spokesman for the Civil Services Employees Association told the Times. “Abstract numbers without any context don’t tell us very much.”

Cuomo had already proposed a one-year salary freeze for state workers and a 20 percent reduction in the number fo state agencies and departments.

Cuomo will release his proposed budget early next month.