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Ulster County public hearing considers delaying pay increases until next term amid ethics concerns
Summary
Speakers at a July 15 public hearing on proposed Local Law No. 8 urged that any changes to legislative compensation not take effect midterm, arguing increases should apply only to future officeholders; county employees also asked the Legislature to consider how raises affect staff contracts and benefits.
A public hearing July 15 on proposed Local Law No. 8 of 2025 — amendments to the Ulster County Charter and Administrative Code regarding the periodic compensation review committee — drew speakers who said pay changes should not take effect for sitting members.
Former legislator David Donaldson told the Legislature he believed midterm pay increases are unethical and may be unlawful, citing the U.S. Constitution—27th Amendment as supporting the principle that elected bodies should not raise pay for currently serving members. "Integrity must matter," he said.
The hearing mattered to county employees who said pay policy affects recruitment and fairness. Sarah Christiansen, an Ulster County information services employee and CSEA member, said compensation must be set low enough that people of modest means can serve and backed a rule delaying any raise until after the next election. "I want to be clear that I believe that the salary needs to be set at a level that makes it not prohibitive for people of lower incomes to be able to serve," she said. Christiansen also told the Legislature CSEA members have been working without a contract since Jan. 1, a point she raised to show the county—s employee-pay processes are consequential for staff.
Resident Patrick (Pat) Sheehan said the proposal before the Legislature was "good legislation" and urged members to vote for an approach that applies increases to future bodies. "If the compensation wasn't appropriate for you then, you should have reconsidered running for office," he said, urging officials to "pay it forward for the next legislative cycle."
No votes on the law were taken at the hearing; the public comment period closed after the three speakers. The clerk called for a motion to close the hearing; the motion was made and seconded and the hearing was closed with no further testimony recorded.
The proposed local law was presented to the Legislature staff as amendments to the Ulster County Charter and Administrative Code to change how the periodic compensation review committee operates; the hearing gave members of the public an opportunity to stress timing and fairness concerns before committee or floor action.
Looking ahead, proponents and opponents asked the Legislature to address both the timing of any pay change and the county's treatment of its employees while contract negotiations continue.
