State Would Cover Mandated Raises for DAs Under Ritchie Bill Passed by Senate

State Senator Patty Ritchie has announced a measure she cosponsors (S.7408) that would stop Albany from passing the buck to counties by requiring the state to cover the full cost of mandated salary raises for district attorneys (DAs) has passed the Senate.

“Our counties are already struggling to balance budgets, and hitting them with another unexpected, unfunded mandate—which the state used to cover—just isn’t fair,” said Senator Ritchie. 

“This is a critically important measure, which would relieve counties and their taxpayers of a significant financial burden.  I’m pleased to see my colleagues recognize the importance of these two goals, and hope the Assembly will follow suit and pass this measure.”

Salary increases for DAs are the result of a recent action by the New York State Commission of Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation that increased judicial pay.  While the state has funded prior salary increases via the state budget, the Governor’s budget proposal and the final state budget did not include funds to help cover the raises.  As a result, counties are now required to cover this additional cost, which totals roughly $30,000 per-county—and $1.57 million statewide.

Senator Ritchie’s cosponsorship of the measure continues her efforts to provide mandate relief to the counties she represents.  Earlier this week, a measure she cosponsored to require the state to cover the full cost of indigent defense, which would save the three counties she represents $5.6 million per-year, passed the Senate.  In addition, the Senate also OK’d a bill she sponsors to provide mandate relief to counties by allowing them to retain more money collected at local DMV offices for work done on behalf of the state.

The measure was sent to the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.