Post by novillero on Sept 10, 2008 10:50:15 GMT -5
in Bridgeton...
but aside from the red highlights, there is more to the story on both political sides.
Candidates pledge salary cuts if elected
By JOSEPH P. SMITH • Staff Writer • September 9, 2008
BRIDGETON -- Democrats running for Cumberland County sheriff and surrogate are pledging deep salary cuts for themselves and their deputies if voters elect them in November.
Freeholder Douglas Rainear, who is running for surrogate, and sheriff's candidate Robert Austino made that pledge Monday afternoon in a news conference outside the county courthouse. They say it would save taxpayers more than a half-million dollars over five years.
"We are going to commit to rolling back the pay for the sheriff and surrogate to $75,000," Rainear said. "And we are also committed to having our deputies roll back their salaries."
The undersheriff would make $60,000 and the deputy surrogate $49,000, they said.
Their Republican opponents noted they already accept salaries lower than what they're entitled to under state law.
The Democrats' proposal projects 2009 salaries for the two top spots in the Sheriff's Department would amount to $135,000, and for the Surrogate's Office, $124,000.
According to Democrats, the salary figures would be $193,000 and $177,000 for the same offices under the Republican incumbents. Over five years, they estimate the savings at $555,000.
The figures Democrats used are what the top administrators in the offices should be receiving under state legislation starting next year.
"This is not any sort of election-year gimmick," Rainear said. "This is something Bob and I committed to back when we were vetted by the Democratic Committee."
"There's no reason to be making that much," Austino said. "Myself, I already have a pension. And nothing turns off people about government more than to see things like that happening."
Salaries for "constitutional officers" have been political issues in the county since the mid-1990s. Every county has three constitutional officers -- sheriff, surrogate and clerk.
Republicans, in response to the pledge, questioned their challengers' math skills and administrative priorities.
Sheriff Michael Barruzza and Surrogate Arthur Marchand stated neither office is drawing the salaries they are entitled to under state law, nor do they expect that to change. Freeholder Director Louis Magazzu, a Democrat, had asked them to take lesser raises a few years ago, and they agreed, they said.
Barruzza said he makes $96,850 instead of the $102,000 he's entitled for 2008. The surrogate is in the same situation.
Current pay levels for sheriff and surrogate took effect in 2007. From 2002 until 2007, the pay was $91,600.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Barruzza said of the estimates. "I was supposed to be making $102,000 by law. Mr. Magazzu wanted myself and the surrogate to take a 3 percent raise and make a little over $96,000. And we agreed to it."
Both incumbents give back money to the county from their salaries.
"I am proud to say I am the lowest-paid surrogate in the state," Marchand said. "Yet I'm the head of the surrogate's association. I didn't take it for the money."
Marchand jabbed Democrats about the site of the news conference. He noted the courthouse is wrapped in plastic to stop rain, part of repairs being made to correct faulty construction.
"I wanted to see if my freeholder opponent was going to explain that," Marchand said. "Secondly, I thought he was going to explain why property taxes are up 9 percent in Hopewell and 16 percent in Upper Deerfield, where he is a committeeman."
Barruzza also noted he's secured $850,000 in grants for the county. "And I don't think any of my predecessors have done nearly that," he said.
www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS01/809090314
but aside from the red highlights, there is more to the story on both political sides.
Candidates pledge salary cuts if elected
By JOSEPH P. SMITH • Staff Writer • September 9, 2008
BRIDGETON -- Democrats running for Cumberland County sheriff and surrogate are pledging deep salary cuts for themselves and their deputies if voters elect them in November.
Freeholder Douglas Rainear, who is running for surrogate, and sheriff's candidate Robert Austino made that pledge Monday afternoon in a news conference outside the county courthouse. They say it would save taxpayers more than a half-million dollars over five years.
"We are going to commit to rolling back the pay for the sheriff and surrogate to $75,000," Rainear said. "And we are also committed to having our deputies roll back their salaries."
The undersheriff would make $60,000 and the deputy surrogate $49,000, they said.
Their Republican opponents noted they already accept salaries lower than what they're entitled to under state law.
The Democrats' proposal projects 2009 salaries for the two top spots in the Sheriff's Department would amount to $135,000, and for the Surrogate's Office, $124,000.
According to Democrats, the salary figures would be $193,000 and $177,000 for the same offices under the Republican incumbents. Over five years, they estimate the savings at $555,000.
The figures Democrats used are what the top administrators in the offices should be receiving under state legislation starting next year.
"This is not any sort of election-year gimmick," Rainear said. "This is something Bob and I committed to back when we were vetted by the Democratic Committee."
"There's no reason to be making that much," Austino said. "Myself, I already have a pension. And nothing turns off people about government more than to see things like that happening."
Salaries for "constitutional officers" have been political issues in the county since the mid-1990s. Every county has three constitutional officers -- sheriff, surrogate and clerk.
Republicans, in response to the pledge, questioned their challengers' math skills and administrative priorities.
Sheriff Michael Barruzza and Surrogate Arthur Marchand stated neither office is drawing the salaries they are entitled to under state law, nor do they expect that to change. Freeholder Director Louis Magazzu, a Democrat, had asked them to take lesser raises a few years ago, and they agreed, they said.
Barruzza said he makes $96,850 instead of the $102,000 he's entitled for 2008. The surrogate is in the same situation.
Current pay levels for sheriff and surrogate took effect in 2007. From 2002 until 2007, the pay was $91,600.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Barruzza said of the estimates. "I was supposed to be making $102,000 by law. Mr. Magazzu wanted myself and the surrogate to take a 3 percent raise and make a little over $96,000. And we agreed to it."
Both incumbents give back money to the county from their salaries.
"I am proud to say I am the lowest-paid surrogate in the state," Marchand said. "Yet I'm the head of the surrogate's association. I didn't take it for the money."
Marchand jabbed Democrats about the site of the news conference. He noted the courthouse is wrapped in plastic to stop rain, part of repairs being made to correct faulty construction.
"I wanted to see if my freeholder opponent was going to explain that," Marchand said. "Secondly, I thought he was going to explain why property taxes are up 9 percent in Hopewell and 16 percent in Upper Deerfield, where he is a committeeman."
Barruzza also noted he's secured $850,000 in grants for the county. "And I don't think any of my predecessors have done nearly that," he said.
www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS01/809090314
