Gov. Cathy Hochul's administration says state officials, who earn far less than their New York City counterparts, could soon receive raises.
Hochul's budget office pushed for raises this week after releasing data showing that many state officials earn as much as $50,000 less than city employees in similar positions and, in some cases, less than their own subordinates. .
The data on low state pay was revealed Thursday during a hearing by a state commission charged with recommending raises for other politicians and top administration officials, including lawmakers and the governor.
“In my view, senior government officials are underpaid;[n] An upward adjustment is likely warranted,” Victor Kovner, who was appointed to the commission by the governor, said at Thursday’s meeting.
“I don't understand the disparity in pay for comparable jobs in New York City and New York State.”
Officials also told the Post that the governor considered the idea of a pay increase during this year's state budget negotiations, but abandoned the idea.
The Salary Committee makes recommendations every four years, and the next salary decision is scheduled to be made by November 15th.
The recommendation could go into effect without action from the Legislature or the governor.
It's unclear exactly how the committee will proceed, but at least two of the committee's seven members appear to be open to the idea, and Hochul's office also appears to be interested. That bodes well for agency heads.
Representatives of government organizations that closely monitor the committee also did not raise any major red flags, especially regarding salary increases for agency heads.
Comparisons with pay levels in the Big Apple were the biggest argument in the Budget Office's report to the Payroll Committee.
For example, state health, transportation, and corrections commissioners all earn $220,004 a year, while city commissioners earn $277,604.
Of the 25 agency heads reflected in the Budget Office presentation, only one, the state education director, earns more than his Big Apple colleague.
The group also discussed scenarios in which agency heads whose salaries are set through other means earn less than other senior officials.
“I think what I have more of an issue with is when you have people here in New York State whose people are making way more money than the people who lead the agencies.” of Congress. Appointee Terry Egan pointed out.
“After the Committee asked the Budget Office to examine and compare pay levels in various government agencies, DOB gathered the requested facts and shared them at today’s meeting. operates independently and we will await details of the findings,” a Budget Office spokesperson told the Post in a statement.
A spokesperson for the state Senate majority was quick to criticize the idea that lawmakers would return to Albany again this year and hold a surprise special session to raise their pay like they did in 2022.
Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Senate Democratic Conference, told the Post that “there will be no special session to raise salaries for members.”
New York state legislators are currently the highest paid in the nation, earning a hefty $142,000 a year, even though they only sit in Albany from January to June.
