Politics & Government
Proposed Pay Hike Spikes Tensions at Town Board Meeting
Public hearing set for Dec. 10 regarding possible 37.5 percent pay increase for some elected officials.
By Rich Jacques
During election season nothing was heard publicly in the Town of North Hempstead regarding a pay raise — but with the election now behind them they're talking about it now.
North Hempstead Democrats, who control the majority on the town board, voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a public hearing Dec. 10 to discuss the possibility of significant pay raises for elected officials.
The pay hike proposal, introduced by interim Supervisor John Riordan, is calling for a 37.5 percent increase for town board members to $55,000. Other proposed salaries would be $138,000; $115,000 for the Receiver of Taxes; and $105,000 for the Town Clerk.
With the public hearing weeks away, residents are already voicing their concerns.
"Everybody ran for office knowing what the salary would be before they were elected. They should accept that," said Francis Moroney of Westbury.
Without ever serving a day in office in the town, North Hempstead Supervisor-elect Judi Bosworth would make $5,000 more than Jon Kaiman, who served for 10 years.
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Asked whether she approves of the proposed pay raises, Bosworth, (D-Great Neck), did not return a request for comment to Patch on Monday.
“This proposal seeks to make North Hempstead elected officials salaries comparable with neighboring towns such as Huntington, Hempstead and Oyster Bay and would still leave the town council and supervisor salaries the lowest in Nassau County," said Riordan in a statement.
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The supervisor, clerk and receiver of taxes last received a raise in 2004. The town board last received a raise in 2004 as well, but also had a pay cut along the way, making their current pay of $40,000 the same as it was in 1989.
Republican Town board members Angelo Ferrera and Dina DeGiorgio opposed further pay hike discussion.
The proposal would not raise taxes nor would it result in the 2014 budget breaking the tax cap with funds coming from the town's contingency fund, according to Riordan.
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