GOSHEN—On July 18, members of a committee of the Orange County Legislature voted unanimously against raises for their positions and two other elected officials over four years.
The issue was first broached by Legislature Chairman Stephen Brescia at a committee meeting last month, with a proposal to give unspecified raises to legislators, the county executive, and the county clerk.
With little dissent, two committees approved 2.75 percent increases for all the aforementioned positions for four years, but the issue was sent back to committee at the full legislature meeting July 7 after a resident spoke out strongly against it.
Legislator Paul Ruszkiewicz said at the July 18 committee meeting that he might have supported pay increases for elected officials, but felt it would be hypocritical after a proposed 3 percent pay cap increase for managers failed in committee.
Legislator Tom Faggione, who opposed pay increases for legislators, said he might have considered an increase for the county clerk if compensation for that position was well behind other counties’. However he was outvoted six to two to lump the county clerk in with the other elected officials.
With zero percent increases, legislators may actually be taking a pay cut, pointed out legislator Michael Paduch, because they currently contribute 12 percent towards their health insurance, and health insurance costs can rise.
He criticized legislators who were worried about not getting re-elected if they voted for a pay increase, saying, “[Constituents] know how hard we all work.”
