Englebright Appointed to New State Task Force

State Assemb. Steve Englebright, D-Setauket, has been appointed to a new state task force intended to oversee the salaries of executives and administrators of state-funded not-for-profits.

Governor Andrew Cuomo established the task force in response to the discovery of inflated salaries of those in charge of groups which receive Medicaid benefits through the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities. An aide to Englebright said Friday the task force will shape the state's investigation of these not-for-profits, and recommend ways to ensure New York residents' tax dollars are being used effectively in these areas.

"I thank Assemblyman Englebright for agreeing to serve on this taskforce," Cuomo said in a statement. "This taskforce's work is critical to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are actually being spent supporting the critical services these not-for-profits have agreed to provide to New Yorkers."

Englebright lauded the establishment of the task force.

"These organizations play an important role in New York State, often serving much-needed causes and working on behalf of disadvantaged groups," he said. "However, as these groups are supported by tax payer dollars, it is our responsibility to ensure that money is spent on helping others rather than excessive salary packages."

Englebright is already the chairman of the assembly's Committee on Governmental Operations. He joins Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, commissioner of the office of alcohol and substance abuse services, and Carl Marcellino, chairman of the senate's Committee on Government Operations, on the task force. Other task force members include commissioners from the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Health, and the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities will also serve on the task force, which will be led by Benjamin Lawsky, superintendent of the Department of Financial Services.