GREED KILLS

Dear Nieces and Nephews

“A legislative committee last week approved 26 percent raises for all 21 lawmakers and County Clerk Annie Rabbitt, a 14 percent raise for Neuhaus and an 8 percent increase for Sheriff Carl DuBois, sending the proposals to the Legislature floor for votes next Thursday. Neuhaus’ pay would rise to $208,000 from $182,000, making him the highest-paid county executive in New York.”

http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180926/neuhaus-opposes-pay-raises-for-oc-officials 

L. Stephen Brescia, Chair of the OC Legislature SAID:

“It might be a little bit too much with what was proposed,” said Brescia. “We’d like to start it in ’19 because it’s been five years and if we don’t do anything until ’20, that’ll be six years with zeros and I think that legislators and elected officials deserve some kind of increase in recompense.”

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2018/September/27/OC_budget-27Sep18.html 

“We have had five years of zeroes. This is trying to stop the gap a little bit and I think that first nine percent adjustment will make up for some of that inaction and then we will try to adjust it and keep it in line with the CSEA raises for the next term.”

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2018/September/29/Neuhaus_no_raise-29Sep18.html 

Why so desperate for money, L. Stephen?

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20110605/news/106050327 

 Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus was opposed to the raises.

STEVE SAID: “I think we all ran with the salary we expected,”

“...26 percent raises for all 21 lawmakers”, who “earn” anywhere from $30,000/year to over $60,000 for a PART TIME JOB! And the Legislative Chair, Mr. Greedy Pants, above, also draws a salary as Village of Montgomery Mayor. And had been acting as a sales representative for a local company for years. 

Auntie finds herself in agreement, surprisingly, with the County Executive and commends him for taking the correct action, especially since the Legislative Chair cannot see beyond the pockets in his “greedy pants.”

However, two issues remain on the radar:

1-The lone Independence Party member of the Legislature is still designated to receive a stipend for being a leader of no one and essentially getting paid twice to do the same thing, despite what the County Attorney, Langdon “Legally Languished” Chapman (former County Chair of the Indy Party and married to the County Chair who succeeded him. Langdon Chapman, who worked for Republican Senator John Bonacic for decades.) is telling him. 

If L. Stephen so strongly supports the stipend for Mr. Amo, let it come from his legislative salary or stipends and not the taxpayers' until there are other Indy Party members to VOTE for him as Chair.

IF Mr. Amo becomes the Indy Party Leader, he may have to caucus with just his party members (in other words, by himself) to justify the stipend and not caucus with the Republicans. After all, does the Democratic leader caucus with the Republicans?

2-“County officials also said the unassigned fund balance, or surplus — which was depleted when Neuhaus took office in 2014 and has since grown — is expected to add another $6.5 million, climbing to $50.2 million.”

http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180926/neuhaus-opposes-pay-raises-for-oc-officials 

$50.2 Million

50.2 Million bucks!  50.2 Million Smackeroos!

Money held by the County that is not assigned to any particular use or need.

No specific line item, 

No specific allocation, 

Just sitting there,

Slushing around…

Isn’t anyone else nervous about that? 

  

OC Independence Party Legislative Caucus at a restaurant:

“Party of one, your table is ready!