A bargain for Cuomo

Here’s another taxpayer-friendly reform for Gov. Cuomo to squeeze out of the Legislature before agreeing to the pay raise it’s hankering for: He should demand wholesale reform to the arbitration system that stacks the deck in favor of many public employee unions.

As the law is now written, these unions can demand arbitration on the claim that contract negotiations have hit a dead end. Arbitrators then consider arguments submitted by labor and management — with one factor being government’s ability to pay for added personnel expenses.

But the definition of ability to pay is liberal in the extreme. If the state or a city, county or town could theoretically raise taxes enough to pay for raises and benefits an arbitrator deems fair, so be it.

The law must be changed to level the bargaining table; this is the chance for Cuomo to do it. His leverage over lawmakers, who would otherwise balk at crossing the unions, will never be greater.

Legislators are desperate for their first pay raise in almost 14 years — and will have to wait two more years if Cuomo refuses a hike.

He should demand a simple change in how arbitrators calculate ability to pay: The standard should be no raises beyond what a government can afford without raising taxes or cutting services.