ALBANY – The state Senate has approved legislation to have the state reimburse local taxpayers for the recent state mandated district attorney salary increase and the New York State Association of Counties supports the effort.
The association of counties also called on the state Assembly to pass the bill, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, Forestburgh).
“This state decision to increase judges’ salaries places a mandate on local taxpayers to fund the increases in DA’s salaries,” said NYSAC President William Cherry, the Schoharie County treasurer. “These types of state mandates must stop.”
“DAs are entitled to the fair and just compensation pursuant to law for fulfilling the state constitutional and statutory duties related to the enforcement of the state penal law,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario. “However, any state mandated increase to a local government official’s salary, as a matter of equity and fairness, must be funded by the state.”
For over 50 years, since the state raised judges’ salaries and required a corresponding raise in salaries for district attorneys, who are county officials, the state has funded the increased costs. For the second consecutive year, the state budget left out language that would require the state to pay the costs of a mandated district attorney pay increase.
