Eggelton’s pay raise should not be the issue

by: Bill Liblick

There has been much ado over a $10,000 pay increase for legislative aide Alexis Eggelton.

Republican members of the legislature have argued that such a salary boost sends the wrong message in a time of financial crisis, especially to those workers in contract negotiations. They are using the percentage of the increase to further display their outrage.

Democrats in defending the raise have countered by saying she has taken on many additional responsibilities, and the increase was warranted. Funds for the raise came from the elimination of an already budgeted secretarial position.

This raise should surprise no one. The Democratic controlled legislature in December went on a salary increase binge for administrators with little public outcry.

Eggelton will now earn $46,078 per year, which in Sullivan County standards might seem high. But, in all honesty, in any other work environment would we be arguing about such a salary for a person who works fulltime (greater than nine to five) for nine elected officials? The position has grown into even more than just a legislative aide. Eggelton serves as the public relations and press arm for the County Government Center.

In order for us to have a skilled and professional work force employees must be adequately compensated whether in the public or private sector.

Sullivan County happens to be one of our largest employers, and most people rely on government not only for employment, but also for the benefits that come along with it.

Several weeks ago The Sullivan County Democrat’s sister publication The Town Crier published a yearly peak into what our influential governmental leaders earn and the findings were astonishing. Some of the salaries seemed ridiculously low, while others seemed too high.

Our problem is far more serious than just critiquing Eggelton’s wages.

Each municipality operates with its own budget and salary scale.

County Commissioners can earn anywhere from the high sixty to eighty thousand dollar range. County Manager David Fanslau earns $135,000, while his bosses the part-time legislature gross $20,977. Of course health benefits, and pension plans are packaged in.

The majority of the elected positions in Sullivan County are part-time. Most have other jobs. Questioning how much time can they really devote to public service?

Tony Cellini is the highest paid town supervisor at $71,342. His job is full-time and his accomplishments for the Town of Thompson are enormous, proving we get what we pay for.

On the other hand, we have eight school districts with each Superintendent earning around $140,000 per year. Wouldn’t it be prudent if we had a centralized Board of Education?  Taxes in all probability would be lowered, and I bet our children would be better educated. But, no one wants to even tackle the subject.

We have four Police Departments, not counting the State Police and Constables. Wouldn’t we operate more efficiently if all of our law enforcement agencies fell under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office, and we had a District Courthouse?

The county and each town and village has their own highway departments. Perhaps if they worked together under one banner, there would be enormous savings for taxpayers.

The time has come for our villages to seriously look into merging into their respective townships to save costs.

The Mayor in the Village of Liberty earns $6,700 per year, village board members receive $5,150, and unlike in Monticello there is no manager. So, how can residents realistically expect any positive change if there is no manager or full-time Mayor running the show?

If our government is to be run properly elected officials must devote their full time to their given municipalities. Minuscule salaries are being made up for by health insurance and other benefits. There are too many slices of the pie being handed out and Sullivan County taxpayers are getting slaughtered in return.

We need consolidation of government. We have too much overlapping of services. But, no one wants to deal with this dilemma. Not the charter review commission, not the legislature, nobody.  

And, here you thought the problem was giving Alexis Eggelton a $10,000 pay raise.

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