Rockland Legislature rightly denies Vanderhoef a pay raise

The Rockland County Legislature has used its voting clout to echo the sentiments written in this blog: County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef has absolutely no business asking for a raise when it's become obvious that he's brought the County's finances to the brink of ruin.

A few weeks back, Vanderhoef mandated that all county agencies freeze overtime and cut all non-essential spending. Also, some departments, notably the Department of Highways will cut back to a 4-day, 10-hour daily work schedule.

It has become apparent that Vanderhoef has failed in the ultimate test of governing. The Republican county executive—and perennial candidate for other offices—did not plan for an economic downturn of this size and got caught more than $18 million short this year.

A small county like Rockland cannot afford $18 million deficits and such problems can only be the result of a budgeting machinations that are short-sighted and poorly thought out. Vanderhoef's most notable mistake for 2008 was that he over-predicted the revenues from sales and mortgage taxes over the last few years, and his formulations didn't take into account the current recession.

Rockland County is in a terrible mess.

For this reason, the legislature denied Vanderhoef a $5,511 raise, making him the sole full-time county employee not to get a raise this year.

And this is exactly what Vanderhoef deserves: He should be paid on his merit as a county executive. I would have gone further if I was a member of the County Legislature; I would have asked Vanderhoef to take a pay cut. Anybody responsible for screwing up the County's budget two years in a row should either consider resigning from office or working for a lower salary.

The property taxes of County residents were increasing mostly because Vanderhoef's previous two budgets grossly missed the mark. And then Vanderhoef turns around and again asks for a raise for himself (the raise he asked for in November was a whopping 14-percent increase). Does this sound like a politician that cares for his constituents? No this sounds like a guy trying to get fat off of the public he's supposed to be serving.

From the Journal News:

The action brought a mixed response, with one legislator saying no raises should have been granted and another asking if Vanderhoef had changed his position on seeking a pay increase.

Vanderhoef said his salary request was in keeping with what every other county worker received, while his supporters labeled the raise denial as politically motivated and disrespectful.

I'm sorry, Vanderhoef can plead poverty or claim that this denial of a raise is inequitable, but I'm not crying for him. Vanderhoef makes $137,000 a year and a pay raise would have taken him to $143,000. He's paid more than twice of what the average family in the County earns. Vanderhoef should suffer as we have.

In the meantime, I'm happy that the Legislature did not hold back raises for sixteen other non-union County employees who toil under Vanderhoef; their raises were well earned and they are not responsible for Vanderhoef's budget malfeasance. In fact, all County workers, except Vanderhoef, are getting their well deserved raises.

When the motion was first raised, Legislators Gerold Bierker, R-Bardonia, and Ed Day, R-New City, tried to table the request, but were defeated 12-5.

Those of you living in Day's (the brown-nosed guy pictured above with Vanderhoef) and Bierker's legislative districts should remember this: These two care more about the salary of the County Executive than they care about how this county has been mismanaged and how tax payers are paying for Vanderhoef's incompetence. They could care less about the salaries of other hard-working County employees. Their actions only prove that the Republican Party, even locally, doesn't care about your taxes, they care about gaining power and keeping it.

The legislature then voted 14-3 to table the motion concerning Vanderhoef's salary. Legislators Doug Jobson, R-Stony Point, Patrick Moroney, R-Pearl River, and John Murphy, R-Orangeburg, voted against the action.

All Republicans again, hmm? They'll have a lot of explaining to do when they talk to their constituencies in the coming months.

The Legislature next voted 10-7 to pass the motion addressing the remaining pay raises. Legislators Bierker; Day; Jobson; Joseph Meyers, D-Airmont; Jacques Michel, D-Spring Valley; Philip Soskin, D-Monsey; and Frank Sparaco, R-Valley Cottage, voted against the measure.

On Friday, Vanderhoef said he expected to receive a raise that was in line with what was negotiated with the unions. He said he worked full time and felt he had asked for a fair increase.

But Vanderhoef is not a union member, he's not a rank-and-file worker, and he won't suffer financially if he doesn't get his raise. He gets a really FAT PAYCHECK as it is.

"I didn't single myself out then or now," Vanderhoef said. "I submitted it because I thought it was fair because everyone was getting a raise."

Boo hoo! It's really an embarrassing to have a whiner as our County Exec, isn't it? It's almost as embarrassing as having one that's inept at his job. But nothing's more embarrassing as having a County Executive who hates his job so much that he constantly campaigns for other jobs. And Rockland County is stuck with someone who has all these dubious qualities.