Town Supervisor Wehrheim Proposes A 22% Salary Increase For Himself

Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim is proposing to raise the saleries of elected officials including a whopping 22% increase for himself and a 16.9% increase for Nicole Garguilo the Town’s Public Information Officer. There’s also a property tax hike in the budget for residents. (Newsday, Nicholas Spangler, Oct.7)

Read Article at Newsday:

Smithtown officials have presented a $126.1 million tentative budget for 2023 that will maintain spending on parks and roads while boosting pay for Town Hall leaders.  

The 198-page spending plan relies on a 2.08% property tax increase, or about $23.75 for a home assessed at $5,500. It would also increase the residential solid waste fee, covering recycling and pickup and disposal of garbage and yard waste, by $25 to $530, almost 5%. The increase reflects higher fuel and disposal costs, town officials said in a budget summary. Property taxes and waste fees are the largest sources of town revenue, accounting for 50% and 16%, respectively.  

“We’ve delivered a budget this year that keeps all of the major funds structurally balanced, with no use of fund balance needed,” Supervisor Edward Wehrheim said in a budget message. “Our fund balance levels remain strong as does our outstanding fiscal rating.” 

The plan would raise Wehrheim’s annual salary by 22%, from $118,827 to $145,000, and increase the pay of council members, who are officially designated as part-time, by 10.5%, from $77,496 to $85,596. Pay for a top aide, public information officer Nicole Garguilo, would increase by 16.9%, from $95,127 to $111,186. Department heads, who are members of a union, would get a contractually mandated 9.5% pay increase. 

Town spending on salaries overall would rise 1.8%. Salaries account for 39% of town spending. Read full article at Newsday.

Patty Stoddard, Smithtown Democratic Town Leader, is urging the public to attend the budget hearing Thursday, October 20 at 7pm. “If you can’t attend email supervisor@smithtownny.gov  or call 631-360-7600

Comments

[Richard A]

It's obvious that Mr.Wehrheim has turned a blind eye toward the citizens fo Smithtown with regard to the financial strain of inflation. The proposed budget necessarily has to reflect the increased cost for operation of the town, and salary increases that reflect inflation would be justified. Considering that the annual increase in Social Security for 2023 is 8%, the salary increase of $26K (22%) for Mr Wehrheim is outrageous as well as the increases for other Town officials. A $10K increase for "part time" enployees is excessive. Smithtown has a large percentage of senior citizens who are struggling with inflation and would love a 22% increase!

[A.G.]

I may be ignorant but how is the Supervisor allowed to give himself a raise, especially when it's 22% ? How does a part timer make almost 86k? What is the public information officer doing when the Town website's last Supervisor notes are from 2019?
During this difficult time for many families these quiet raises are unethical and immoral! It doesn't matter if you're Rep or Dem, if it was put to a vote it wouldn't fly.

[Waldemar]

'Pay for a top aide, public information officer Nicole Garguilo, would increase by 16.9%, from $95,127 to $111,186.'

What does a 'public information officer' do and how OFTEN? Why does Smithtown need such a position?

[Michael]

Public information officer did not exist under the previous administration. This is a euphemism for public relations.
Now, we will pay $111,186 plus benefits of $50,000 or so.
Where is the outrage.?

[Don heaton]

Those raise per centages are outrageous. What happened to fiscal responsibility that we had under Vecchio? Most working people are getting a scant 3 - 4 % raises. Social security is only going up 8.7%...maybe. Where does this town administration get off with a 22% and a 16% increase? Are things that much better in town? NO.

[Joy]

Wow, I bet you all voted for the school and library budget increase!

[Mike Larmony]

What house in Smithtown is assessed at $5500.?
Dopes. Heating oil, food, crime, gas. !! You people better wake up.

[Jk]

Supervisor Vecchio god rest his soul is rolling around in his grave about this!!

[lc]

None of this would ever happen if Pat Vecchio was still supervisor!!! Isn't Nicole Garguilo some sort of relative of Ed Wehrheim???

[Joy]

I am surprised that so many Smithtown home owners do not look at their tax bill. No “chairman” would work for a corporation for the salary the town leader is paid. He is always working and oversee’s many departments in the town.
Look at your tax bill and see that the bulk of your taxes go to the schools and library. You all vote “yes” for those increases.

[mario piscitelli]

Town Supervisor Wehrheim Proposes A 22% Salary Increase For Himself

The maniacs are running the asylum, Such a disgrace that they call themselves a man.

[Tom]

Where can I get on of those "22% Wehrheim" bumper" stickers for my car?

[R B]

I could use $25,000, if we're giving it out.

[Joy]

Well, no one here is talking about the “special session” NYS Legislature had with Governor Hochul. They quietly passé a 29% pat raise for themselves. Don’t see any outrage here.

[Glenn]

The fox(es) guarding the chicken coop! Town of Smithtown part time Town Council positions are worth almost $86K??? NO!!! These council members - especially Lohmann and Nowick - aren't worth HALF that!!! And, Ed Wehrheim merits a 22% increase to $145K??? Again, a resounding NO!!! Good to see the level of corruption continues to INCREASE in the Town of Smithtown!!! Doesn't make a difference if it's a Republican or Democrat - from state to town level, the politicians keep giving themselves RAISES THEY DON'T DESERVE!!!

[Employer]

Meanwhile they nickel and dime the blue collar workers. Threatening to raise Healthcare percentage payments and take, take, take. We fight so hard hoping for a percentage or two, (mind you making no where near what they make) while they get to vote on giving themselves raises. How about put it up to a town wide vote. Let the people decide if these big wigs deserve such enormous raises. Would be one thing if it was earned.

[Citizen]

Raising taxes so we can give these employees this money is despicable!
I myself like many others have been in our homes 50 yrs or more! There is so very much corruption and each year it gets
even worse!!
Let’s gang up and do our part to keep our costs down!! Vote, Vote, Vote!

[Robert Johnson]

The position of Public Information Officer is theoretically to clarify and amplify the positions of the Supervisor and Board Members regarding various town issues. If we had elected officials articulate enough to clearly express their own positions and views, the office of Public Information Officer would not be necessary. For any of those having attended Board Meetings and civic events hosted by our elected officials, it is clear why this position is necessary; to obfuscates, confuse and obscure positions not in the best interest of town voters. Vote them out and vote in a Democratic contingent intent on maintaining a quality of life consistent with raising a family and not interested in furthering the business interests at the community’s expense. Their contention that all their efforts are to increase the tax base thereby lowering your taxes is a hollow promise; when was the last time your Town Taxes WENT DOWN.

[joy]

yet, you will all sit back and let the school district raise your taxes again. If every official elected in Smithtown made $1 million per year, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to the Smithtown School District. Did you all read the budget you were sent? $62 million for benefits, $73 million in “regular “teachers salary, $36 million for special ed, $8.3 million for principals. AND WAIT FOR IT…..$76 million in UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS. Your town taxes do not go up at the rate the school taxes do, stop whining abou town hall and VOTE NO on the school budget. That my friends, will save big tax increases.

[Sunny]

Is there a vote on this 22% increase or it’s whatever he proposes for himself?

[HG]

Seriously, do people not notice all these things have been going on for ever? The town hall has been revamped , re landscaped, same employees for 40-50 yrs. Or their families when they retire on crazy pensions. Now they are charging to go to the beach, goin to the beach, the only relief from the stress of our bills that we receive with 22% plus pay hikes. Why are protected random pieces of property being snatched up by peole within the “ circle “ and built on ? No one goes to these meeting they have which no one knows about except the inner circle. Wake up. Call for meetings where people can get up and speak and take citizens voted on these matters instead of everyone putting up with this under the table stuff that’s been going on since this guy rode the bull. Wake up .

[Jay Mirhan]

Ms. Garguilo, who is a dear friend of the Supervisors, will be making almost $112,000 for not doing much of anything. We rarely hear from her or see her work. The town app that was great when it started (assumably by her), is rarely used and when it is, it's filled with spelling and detail errors. The town website is dated and the town tv station is running old material. On top of that, the salaries of most of the Town employees, including folks in the Highway Department, Parks Department and public safety the Park Rangers, Bay Constables and Fire Marshals are far below where they should be. People are leaving in droves for better paying jobs in other towns, and we the tax payers are footing the bill for all of that training that they are taking with them. The Supervisor gets a full pension from his time as a Town employee and a decent salary as the Supervisor. As a senior, I can barely afford to make ends meet, yet these people just take and take.

[Mary Margaret]

When most workers get 0-5% pay raises HOW do they justify 22%??? What valued added have they succeeded in offering??? Our roads are awful…. Dead carcasses stay for days…. Beaches and ponds flooded… not to mention streets and homes! It’s unconscionable to get that high a rise when others WHO PAY THEIR PART TIME SALARIES are struggling to feed their children!! Consider this when casting your ballot Nov 5!!!