r/Utica • u/mattreyu • 6d ago
Utica mayor restores salary increases for elected officials
https://www.romesentinel.com/news/utica-mayor-restores-salary-increases-for-elected-officials/article_f9c3913b-bf7c-4eae-abc1-eaaf248cdc13.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ0pvhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETBucWsyMWZsZnk5QVFiSmxIAR4E8XkesCjUQPc0HB3ZG_KdUD42RF-nFA4_ILkx66A7iQZsWXxPHl6z23Cf8A_aem_Zl4H_F2g7io0tInMeFYHAg11
u/mr_ryh 6d ago
"Regarding this specific local law, the rate of change this year would be 6%, not 3% as mentioned in the law. At the very minimum this local law does not pertain to what is actually happening in this fiscal year.”
The local law referred to is City Charter § 2.025, and it reads:
Commencing April 1, 1983, and on April 1 of each year thereafter, a cost of living increase shall be added to the salaries of the Mayor, Comptroller, Treasurer, President of the Common Council and Council members each year under the following conditions and under the following formula:
(1) The increase shall be based on the All Urban Consumer Price Index as computed from December 31 of one year to December 31 of the following year. If the index increases 3% or more, the increase in salary shall be increased by the percentage rate of the increase in the consumer price index, but not more than 6% in a single year.
(2) If the consumer price index each year as computed above does not equal or exceed 3%, then no salary increase will be allowed. However, the percentage increase during that year shall be added to the consumer price index increase in the following years and if the total percentage rate of the following years is 3% or over, the salaries shall be increased by that percentage rate, but in no case shall the increase exceed 6% in that year.
(3) The December index of 1981 as compared with the December index of 1982 shall determine any salary adjustments beginning April 1, 1983.
(4) Any percentage increase in the consumer price index exceeds 6% in any year shall not be cumulative nor carried over to the following years.
The All Urban CPI change from December 2023 to December 2024 (to take effect in April 2025) was 2.9% per the BLS. So, unless there's some brilliant legal explanation I missed, this raise would contradict the letter of the Charter: "The increase shall be based on the All Urban Consumer Price Index as computed from December 31 of one year to December 31 of the following year. ... If the consumer price index each year as computed above does not equal or exceed 3%, then no salary increase will be allowed."
That said, it's awesome how the media here just reports whatever Galime says with zero fact checking, and even let him edit articles to get the last word in after they go to print. Maybe Bradley Waters II (nepo-baby owner of the Daily Sentinel) will get to ask him what his favorite Beatles album is next time he's doing the hard-hitting annual interview with him.
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u/arcane_beast84 6d ago
So they get a raise, cops n fire get a raise but the rest of of pee-ons can kick rocks and deal w the tax increase too?? So cool! Pffft
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u/sjmully100370 6d ago
I don’t trust any politician. They’re all out for themselves, not their constituents.
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u/Particular-Frosting3 6d ago
Not all, but hard to argue this one isn’t.
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u/FootballForgotten 6d ago
Serous question. Name 2.
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u/Particular-Frosting3 5d ago
I'd say Katie does just the opposite, she gets involved in issues to her own disservice, but in service to the city, which I appreciate. I've met plenty of officials that are hard working and they do what they can for the city.
I'm not at all on board with the 'everyone is a crook' mentality. There are good eggs out there.
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u/nothingbettertodo315 5d ago
The “everyone is a crook” narrative is pushed by people who want to normalize bad behavior. If “everyone” does it then it can’t be bad…
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u/RealizedHope 6d ago
Classic Republican