Some say it’s an overdue reality check, others say it’s just a political ploy to look good to voters. Whatever side you fall on, Legislator William J. Lindsay III has gotten attention by proposing to end automatic pay increases for Suffolk County Legislators. A county law* enacted in 2001 guarantees legislators an annual salary increase based on the Cost of Living Index or a maximum of 4 percent whichever is less. According to Robert Lipp, Director of Suffolk County Budget Review the increase in legislator’s pay has averaged 2.73 percent.
Having a Suffolk County Legislature costs Suffolk County residents nearly $10 million a year. There are 123 active emplyees working for the Legislature, remuneration for those employees totaled $8,798,662 in 2013. There are eighteen legislative districts thoughout the county. Each legislative district has an elected legislator who has three staff members, most maintain an office in their district (rents vary) and an office at the William T. Rogers bldg. in Hauppauge. In addition to the annual salary of $98,260.00 (up from $86,196 in 2008** - 13.98% increase).** legislators are entitled to the same benefits as other county employees including pension, paid healthcare and access to low cost eye care and dental benefits. Legislators may use County cars and phones for offical business.
Nassau County legislators earn $39,500 a year and have not received a salary increase since the county legislature was created in 1996. Nassau and Suffolk County legislators have the same responsiblities.
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Recently a bill sponsored by Legislator William J. Lindsay III (D-Bohemia) a proposed law to end automatic pay increases for Suffolk County legislators. The bill went into the Government Operations, Personnel, Housing & ;)
Consumer Protection Committee and never came out. Not a single legislator of the five remaining committee members seconded the legislation to move it to the legislature. In attendance at the meeting were Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D) as well as committee members Robert Calarco (D) , Tom Cilmi (R), Kara Hahn(D), Kevin J. McCaffrey (R), and Jay Schneiderman (I).
(Legislator Lindsay did not return phone call by publication time. photos SC Legislature Website)
* County charter provides elected officials with automatic pay increases of 4percent a year/or the increase in the regional consumer price index whichever is lower. Section 205-2 Salary schedule - amended 11-15-1999 by L.L no 42-1999: 9-27-2005 LL 32-2005
A. The salary of all elected officers specified in Subsection B holding position under the Suffolk County Charter shall be increased annually commencing January 1, 2001, by an amount equal to the lesser of 4% or the amount of increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York - Northern New Jersey - Long Island Region published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States.
**”Pay and Perks Vary Widely for County Legislators,”By David McKay Wilson- The New York Times, February 24, 2008**.