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County Executive Vanderhoef Cuts Own Salary By 5 Percent

Vanderhoef announced Thursday night he was reducing his salary $7,754.

As Rockland County government continues to struggle with a growing deficit, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef announced Thursday evening that he was voluntarily reducing his annual salary by five percent.

Vanderhoef acknowledged even though the county legislature has voted to support his proposed contingenecy budget, additional financial reductions must be made.

 Vanderhoef earns $155,087 annually, the reduction will cut that by $7,754.

“This will not heal our budgetary wounds, but I want to lead by example," Vanderhoef said. "This gesture will hopefully encourage others to take similar steps to help the County deal with our serious financial woes."

He went onto to say that the credit agencies are watching the county closely. Moody's Investors Service . Vanderhoef said he hoped his action would signal to Moody's "that we are ready and willing to make difficult financial decisions.”

Part of Vanderhoef's plan for cutting the included the elimination of 150 jobs across departments. Other measures were the creation of a tax on utility usage and community college chargebacks to towns and villages for residents attending community colleges outside Rockland and fees for Board of Elections services. 

Martin Deane June 1, 2012 at 10:08 am
About time now give back the rest of the retroactive 20% raise you took when you won the last election.
Think4urself June 1, 2012 at 11:52 am
What would really make a dent in the Rockland County budget deficit is if CSV would give back 5% of all the kickbacks he's taken.
Helene Feigelman June 1, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Increases his salary after budget is passes by $17,000 then gives back $7,754. He wants to set an example. Well he sure has!
Howard Feigelman
Richard June 1, 2012 at 02:11 pm
I used to respect him. Now, not so much. This stunt has more PR value than anything else.
F*** June 1, 2012 at 02:24 pm
Really not much PR value.
Jimmy June 1, 2012 at 02:42 pm
I could do a better job for half the money!. Cut your salary by 50% and then let us know.
Mike Hirsch June 1, 2012 at 03:17 pm
Thank you Scotty. It's better than nothing. Let's see if the Legislators follow your example.
Bruce Cohen June 1, 2012 at 03:29 pm
Oh Boy, Wow, a full 5%, do you think he can afford it. Maybe he'll apply for section 8 subsidies?
I really feel that every elected official should take at least a 25% cut.
Julique June 1, 2012 at 03:32 pm
This is setting a good example, but not drastic enough. Especially with the impending cuts for not-for-profits, the increased cost for education etc.... which are all vital services for the future health of the county! Something else has to change too.
Cliff Weathers June 1, 2012 at 03:32 pm
Considering that the County is all but bankrupt and should be in State receivership, I don't think he deserves a salary at all. In fact, I'm thinking it's time for Vanderhoef to leave town.
stephany June 1, 2012 at 06:47 pm
not really even 5% because he will be paying no taxes on the 5% he is not giving up $7754 maybe 4% and we are making up the difference--unless there is a surplus I don't know about. $7754 sounds good though
Richard June 1, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef gets a $17,322 raise in 2010 after a 12-5 vote by the county legislature to retroactively increase his pay.
Scott, what example do you think you're setting? You've run the county into a hole.
jrod June 1, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Really? the man gave himself a raise last year - then took only a small portion of it to give back. A whole bunch of county employees called his office today asking if they could take a 5% cut also to save jobs. He didnt respond. None of those CSEA employees have gotten a raise. He's no example. He's afraid of Moody's. He would never do this in any other circumstance. Once again I urge people to check out the budget on line - salaries in his office alone.....how about he gives up the free pharmacy. The CSEA has nothing to do with that. It's not contractual. He created it. That would save 3 million off the bat. It's on tuesday nights agenda to continue funding it.
jrod June 1, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Everything has to change. He shouldn't have put unreal money into the budget for the past 10 yrs. Setting a good example would be to do the job with honor and integrity. He's most likely on his way out next year with a nice retiremnt package.
jrod June 1, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Way to go Cliff!!
jrod June 1, 2012 at 10:54 pm
You are so right Richard. I wish everyone that makes these true to life comments would go to a Legislature meeting and say it out loud. There's never any accountability...that's why we are in this position. By the way - there's still no accountability - lay offs or not.
Think4urself June 1, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Scotty has a lot in common with Obama- they both refuse make government cuts and they both lead from behind. Vanderhoef has never been a leader. This "pay cut" to show that he has leadership qualities is a pathetic PR stunt. If he had an once of fortitude, he would of never allowed himself to be totally owned by the unions. He embodies the adage-"Politics is the conduct of public affairs for private advantage".
Cliff Weathers June 2, 2012 at 12:52 am
This has nothing to do with Obama. This is a municipality, not a nation. I see a big disconnect to your comment.
This has to do with a County Executive that has had two decades of uninterrupted power and has not paid any attention to a budget, has relied on the sales tax crapshoot, and has squandered our money by giving political cronies six-figures, no-show jobs. And nobody seems to care, even a legislature that doesn't vote along party lines, but votes to keep their friends employed. Democrats and Republicans have screwed over Rockland County. The worst of them all is Murphy, who said, in response to my remarks that the County was in financial trouble, was that he thought it was in EXCELLENT SHAPE, this was only a short time ago. Such people should just resign their positions out of shame, as they're obviously incompetent. And, it is time for Scott Vanderhoef to resign. He's obviously not competent as a manager. I wish some member of the County Legislature would agree with me on this. I asked for this 19 months ago!
Chris June 2, 2012 at 01:09 am
Yes, while we all have to pay co-pays for our medications, we also have to pay for the free pharmacy for CSEA members, but, MAINLY for government officials. That is the only reason it is not up for elimination.
Chris June 2, 2012 at 01:11 am
I AGREE, he is doing more harm than good
Think4urself June 2, 2012 at 02:22 am
The analogy is about characteristics which are shared by inept, so-called leaders and not about the office they hold. My comments are spot on. Your comments about the "big disconnect" is specious at best.
jrod June 3, 2012 at 09:19 pm
Cliff is right. this fiscal mess is not because Exec is "union owned". It's because he put revenue into the budget that WASNT REAL for years. The Legislature signed off on these budgets for years - and then they did the same thing by assuming the sales tax increase would be passed - so that "revenue" was already put into the 2012 budget. Additionally, the budget hides all kinds of things - like salaries for people they dont want you to know about. And the Commissioners are not held accountable for thier own messes in their own depts because they are cronies. That's why our own county gov. has no idea what they need to do to make it right. You cant come up with real figures when you haven't had a real budget in over a decade. Exec cant be impeached according to the county charter. Only one that can remove him is Cuomo. Good luck. Some of the Legislators DO agree he is incompetent...but they have to approve all of his budgets.....so everyone here is to blame - except the poor people losing their jobs.
Think4urself June 3, 2012 at 09:43 pm
jrod -Don't you think Vanderhoef gave the CSEA and law enforcement unions, for example, anything they wanted in order for their support in his elections? Where do these public service unions get their raises and pensions from- the taxpayer. The unions and medicaid have put Rockland County in almost junk bond status. Haven't you seen the obscene salaries the Clarkstown police make? Is there really a need for the Sheriff's Department in this fiscal crisis? Rockand could save a significant amount of money if they combined police departments and utilized a County Police.
INTHEKNOW June 3, 2012 at 09:55 pm
What does the Clarkstown or other town police salaries have to do with the county finances? They have nothing to do with each other?
County Police???? You can't trust this county to run a hospital, a sewer department or fix a road... and you want to turn over law enforcement to them? No thanks, I'll keep my local police. When I want a cop I don't want them coming from Spring Valley or running errands for the Monsey cult.
Think4urself June 3, 2012 at 10:15 pm
You should change your screen name to "IDON"TKNOW" because your blogs are convoluted and illogical.
jrod June 3, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Think4urself - The police have different unions - it's not the CSEA that gets them what they want - it's mostly the PBA. All county positions do not have the same contracts or unions/benefits. CSEA people being laid off have NOT gotten raises. And they are NOT asking for any. Medicaid rates are because of Ramapo. Statistics available online. This has nothing to do with CSEA employees who will lose jobs. Agreed that Sheriff is duplication of services and police have obscene pay ...what I'm saying is they did not lose their jobs... Falco brought positions to the table for "lay offs". Those positions were absorbed by the Spring Valley Police. Yes it's a town - but town budgets ARE supported by county - your tax dollars support your town budgets too. Junk bond status WAS NOT caused by union or Medicaid. Your county officials put revenue into budget for years that WAS NOT REAL MONEY. And Commissioners are Exec's appointees who are not held accountable for fiscal irresponsibility either. It's not fair to accuse union workers who have worked hard and DO contribute - they took low wages in exchange for better benefits. Many DO pay into their benefits - and are willing to pay more. Why is it on the backs of the little people...corporate greed in the public sector?? Union workers pay taxes too. if you or I did not chose to work for the public sector what gives us the right to point fingers at the laid off people now when it's not thier fault that the county is broke?
jrod June 3, 2012 at 10:38 pm
INTHEKNOW - I'm not really sure what you're talking about. Are you reading these blogs correctly? Not sure why you think that the county finaces have nothing to do with the police salaries either. Ultimately it's all one pot of tax dollars at the end of the day. The stte owes the county 42 million...the county is broke...they charge back stuf to the towns.... Sh** rolls down hill. Our state is broke. So is the US Gov.

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