Commission finalizes salary recommendations for Erie County leaders

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Citizens Salary Review Commission has finalized its wage recommendations for five Erie County leaders after three months of discussion. 

The soonest the Erie County Legislature could vote on the commission's recommendation is Thursday, March 21 during its next full session. Below is the commission's finalized recommended pay raises for the county's elected officials. 

• County Executive - $139,932 to $175,000
• County Sheriff - $101,811 to $150,000
• County Clerk - $90,129 to $130,000
• County Comptroller - $107,160 to $140,000
• County Legislator - $42,588 to $65,000 ($5,000 bonus for caucus leader, $10,000 bonus for chair)

Tuesday's recommendation is starkly different from the one recommended by the 2018 Salary Review Commission, which only okayed cost of living adjustments (COLAs). While that option was considered, with higher inflation and cost of living in recent years it ultimately did not prevail.

The board did unanimously vote to end COLAs so the salary recommended by the commission won't change year to year unless a different commission decides otherwise.

The methodologies used to reach each salary suggestion were broken down into nine different categories, which were meant to inform the board members' decision-making:

1. Comparable Counties
   1. Focus on the Big Four and Big Five Counties (Albany, Erie, Monroe, Onondaga and Westchester)
   2. Pay rates in counties comparable to Erie Co.
   3. Monroe County is the most comparable NYS county to Erie Co.
2.  The Erie County Legislature
   1. Legislators' Workload
   2. Separation of Powers in NYS charter
   3. The ability to run for Erie Co. legislator open to more residents
   4. Benefits of Erie Co. legislators
   5. The Legislature Chair as a full-time position
   6. Size of Legislature budget
3. Earnings Considering Average Anual Economic Growth
4. Salaries of Non-Elected County Officials
5. Salaries of Elected Officials in the City of Buffalo
6. Fringe Benefits
7. Complexity of all the Officerholders' Duties
8. Consideration of Staggering of Elections
9. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)

The county legislature will still have to vote on the raises before they can go into effect. If approved, all salary suggestions would not take effect until after the next election for each position.