ALBANY, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo says he has no plans to force Syracuse's mayor to step aside as co-chair of the state Democratic party. Cuomo and Stephanie Miner have been involved in a long distance debate over his pension proposal in his new budget plan.

It would allow local governments to save budget funds by stretching out payments on pension funds over a 25 year period. Miner criticized the idea at state legislative budget hearings this week. She has led the opposition to the Cuomo proposal, saying it would simply push debt to future administrations. Cuomo says there has been a basic misunderstanding.

“The pension plan is an option that a mayor can choose to take, a county executive can choose to take or not. If you're skeptical about it, don't take it. I mean, it's not a mandate. Nobody said, ‘Syracuse must do this, any county must do this.’ If she doesn't think it's appealing to her, then don't take the program. It's that simple,” said Gov. Cuomo.

Cuomo says he does not believe Miner should lose her party post over the policy disagreement.