PUBLIC HEARING AT 6 TONIGHT
Raises Possible
For Supervisors,
Representatives
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – The culmination of a two-year study designed to bring department-head and county-rep salaries into line will be presented this evening at the public hearing on Otsego County’s 2019 budget.
The public hearing will be at 6 p.m. in the county courthouse on upper Main Street, Cooperstown.
The salary plan, developed by averaging maximum-minimum salaries in 16 similar Upstate counties, would increase what are called M&C salaries (for managerial and confidential employees) by 20 percent.
DETAILS IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSPAPERS
The study also shows county rep salaries should rise from $10,500 to $13,400 to come into line with county boards in the similar counties. The last county rep raise, $259 a year, was approved in 2007 for the 2008 year.
“I did a lot of research at the beginning and was appalled by what we found in terms of how far behind Otsego County was,” said Gary Koutnik, D-Oneonta, the county board’s vice chairman. “I think that understanding is slowly becoming the norm.”
Said board Chair David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield, “We end up being a training place. We spend the time and money, then they (department heads) go and leave. It ends up costing us more in the long run.”
He also said possible “inefficiencies of service because we have inexperienced people” are also a concern.
