BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Three of the top offices in Erie County Government may receive a notable pay raise, depending on how legislators vote in the future.
The nine-member Citizens Salary Review Commission of Erie County concluded the county executive, comptroller, and sheriff should all receive pay raises. If approved, the next term of the county executive would go from an annual salary of $103,428 to $118,376. The comptroller's salary would go from $80,613 to $94,037 while the sheriff would increase from $79,092 to $89,343.
The county clerk and legislators would receive no change in pay.
"I believe it's appropriate," Chairman Peter Savage said while comparing the county government to a private business with a CEO, financial officer, and chief law enforcement officer and the legislature itself to a board of directors. "We're a $1.7 billion operation...(To ensure) that those salaries are competitive and that we are competitive in terms of attracting the best possible candidates just like the private sector. We should do it in a public way."
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If approved, the county executive's salary increase would take effect beginning next year because of this year's election. The comptroller and sheriff's salary would not increase until after the 2021 election.
Minority leader Joe Lorigo wanted additional discussion on the matter before any type of vote is brought forward.
"I think we should have a series of community and public hearings so that we can hear input from our constituents as to how they feel we should be proceeding with raising salaries of elected officials," Lorigo said. "It's going to take a lot of convincing but I want to hear what people have to say. Any time you raise an elected official's salary, I think the public deserves the right to have an input."
Lorigo was expected to submit a resolution Thursday during regular session asking for public meetings to be held. It's unlikely to pass in the democratic-controlled majority.
The commission will present their findings to the legislature next Thursday.