Judge clarifies fate of future legislative raises

State lawmakers may have to live with only 60 percent of the pay raise that a special compensation commission authorized last year.

The fate of salary increases for 202 and 2021, which were in limbo following an ambiguous court ruling in June, was at least temporarily resolved on Friday, when state Supreme Court Judge Christina Ryba clarified that her decision tossed out future raises.

The clarification is available below.

Any raises beyond the $30,500 increase that went into effect in January were declared null and void by Ryba because they were tied to restrictions on private income for members of the state Legislature, which she found exceeded the authority of the commission.

Raises for state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, state Attorney General Letitia James and state agency heads will continue to be phased in through 2021, as the commission didn’t attach strings to their salaries.

Read more: https://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/287413/judge-clarifies-fate-of-future-legislative-raises/
(Albany Times Union)