Committee schedules hearing on compensation committee changes after debate over midterm raises for legislators
Summary
The committee set a July 15 public hearing on a proposed local law affecting the Periodic Compensation Review Committee and whether the legislature can change legislator salaries midterm; the vote was 5–2 and drew a mix of support and objections.
The Ulster County Laws, Rules, and Government Services Committee on June 12 voted to set a public hearing for July 15 on proposed Local Law No. 8 of 2025, which would amend charter and Administrative Code provisions related to the Periodic Compensation Review Committee and the process for legislative salary adjustments.
Committee discussion included objections to language that some members said would constrain the legislature’s ability to change legislative salaries midterm. One legislator said: “I don't think it makes sense to constrain ourselves from a legislative action using a legislative mechanism to constrain ourselves in a legislative capacity.” That speaker said they planned to vote against setting the public hearing because they did not support codifying such a constraint.
Another member suggested timing the compensation review so recommendations would fall after an incoming legislative body takes office, saying adjustments to the review schedule could achieve the intended effect without restricting legislative action. A different member said they would vote to set the public hearing but intended to raise substantive concerns at the hearing.
The committee recorded a roll call and the resolution to set the hearing was adopted 5 to 2. The public hearing is scheduled for July 15 at 7:05 p.m. The committee’s action was limited to scheduling the hearing; no changes to the compensation-review language were adopted at this meeting.
