STATEMENT

by Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO
PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW YORK CITY

Albany, New York
March 31, 2008

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Statement From Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City Urging Immediate Raises for State Judges and a Commission to Determine Salaries of State Officials in the Future

“The Partnership for New York City urges the Governor and the State legislature to approve a pay raise for State judges as part of the budget for 2008-2009. Because New York is a center of international business and finance, the commercial caseload facing our judiciary is particularly complex and demanding. Compensation is only one factor in our ability to attract judges who are up to the task, but it is a critical factor.  Along with numerous other legal, business and civic organizations, we support Judge Kaye's effort to secure both an immediate raise and the adoption of a Quadrennial Commission to determine future salary levels for State officials.

“New York State’s judges have gone without a pay raise since 1999, despite cost of living increases of more than 26 percent. Currently, compensation for New York judges ranks in the bottom half of states nationally. Moreover, Federal District Court judges, with whom State Supreme Court justices historically have enjoyed pay equity, now earn $30,000 more per year. These low salaries have become a significant morale issue for New York State judges and an obstacle to recruitment and retention.

“In addition to the critical issue of compensation, the Partnership strongly supports the enactment of a permanent bipartisan or nonpartisan compensation commission, like the one proposed by Chief Judge Kaye, that would adjust judicial salaries on a regular basis based on objective, widely-accepted criteria — and not only for the judiciary, but for officials in all three branches.

“A compensation commission for all three branches of government would help ensure that salary decisions are made in a transparent, nonpartisan context insulated from unrelated political or policy issues.  Almost half the states (24) now rely on the recommendations of permanent compensation commissions to set judicial salaries, with salary adjustments typically tied to the consumer price index (CPI) or similar criteria. In 14 of those states, the commissions are empowered to review the compensation of a broad range of public officials in all three branches of government.  

“We believe that enactment of a compensation commission would best serve the State and would provide the best future hope of getting the judiciary out of this difficult position once and for all.”

The Partnership for New York City (www.pfnyc.org) is a network of business leaders dedicated to enhancing the economy of the five boroughs of New York City and maintaining the city’s position as the center of world commerce, finance and innovation.