WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2008: The County Legislators Compensation Advisory Board came out in favor of freezing Westchester County Legislators' salaries until January 2010. They called for raises in salaries and stipends only to be voted upon after odd-year elections and to be limited to the cost of living price index.  Their recommendations are not binding, and the legislature can choose to raise the increases and implement them with impunity earlier  and higher if they wished. Chairman of the Board of Legislators Bill Ryan issued this statement on learning of the findings and cost of living increases recommended this morning:

“I would like to thank the members of the Compensation Advisory Board for their service to the people of Westchester. They worked hard over the last three months to address a difficult issue. The report they have submitted today is thoughtful and deliberative. The legislators will carefully consider their recommendations.”

The Chair did not respond to a WPCNR question as to whether the legislators would abide by the wage freeze recommendation, or the scope of the cost-of-living increases recommended, or would act to reward themselves despite the committee’s findings.

The Advisory Board found the job of County Legislator to be “a part-time job” and advised that legislators should not be recommending or voting to approve their own salaries, as a primary reason for delaying the Board’s recommended increases an average of 2.5% a year until 2010.

$49,000  Increased to $55,200 recommended

The Board, noting legislators are currently enjoying  compensation increases  made effective January 1, 2006, recommended the Legislators’ base pay should rise by a total of 7.5% effective January 2010 increasing their annual salary to $52,890. Stipends for Committee Chairs should rise $1,000.

The Board  advised that the position of Chair of the Board of Legislators,  currently held by White Plains’ Bill Ryan should be upgraded 7.5% ($3,000) to an annual stipend of $43,000, which added to his base salary would reach an estimated $98,000. The committee member WPCNR spoke with to confirm that figure estimated that was what the Chair would earn under the recommended guidelines.

In the course of the news conference, William Mooney, the Committee chair, noted pointedly that his committee concluded the job of legislator was, in Mr. Mooney’s words “At this time, we feel this is a part-time job.”

But it is a great part-time job

Mooney took one legislator’s pay and used it to note that should the Panel’s recommendations be followed, the legislator would receive $55,200 bade pay effective in Janury 2010, plus $25,000 in benefits for this “part-time” job. In addition to a $55,200 salary, each legislator receives $14,000 worth of medical benefits, $640 for Dental Care. Pension benefits $5,600,  and $5,000 more in benefits.

Public Commentary Running Against Original Proposals

Asked if public forum input swayed the panel’s feelings towards limiting legislator pay to the cost of living rate, Mooney said there was a good deal of support for increasing legislator pay more on the part of the public, but that the “cons” had the advantage by a slim margin.

The panel  strongly recommended legislators vote only on pay raises on odd-numbered years, and that they be limited to the cost of living.

The Chairman of the Board of Legislators (Mr. Ryan) ignited a controversy and much press attention, over legislator pay when he recommend his own stipend, using the argument that legislator and Chair is not a part-time job. The legislators' original plan would have raised Ryan's total pay $149,000 a year (more than the Mayor of the City of White Plains, who makes $145,881 presently).

More job description and oversight, please

Mooney said the fact that many Westchester residents are hurting in the present economy was a key element in the panel decision to keep wage recommendations to the 2.5% cost  of living increase.

Mooney chided the way 17 persons have been added to the Board of Legislators staff with no particular description of their duties – noting the budget of the Board of Legislators staff has doubled from $2.4 Million to $4.7 Million over three years.

Mooney said he had revealed the findings of the panel to Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Bill Ryan before the news conference and that the Chair had thanked him for their work.  Mooney stressed that the panel was only advisory.

Still, this puts the Board of Legislators into a touchy spot.

As Mooney put it in the news release, “Westchester residents have repeatedly expressed their concern about the growth and cost of government. This is also a difficult economic time when our society is facing significant stress from the cost of energy, job losses and rising taxes. This is the context  for the recommendations this panel is presenting to the legislators today.”