STATEMENT

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

New York, New York
December 1, 2006

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Statement by the Partnership for New York City President and CEO Kathryn S. Wylde Urging Adoption of Independent Commission to Determine Salaries of State Officials

Immediate Raise for State Judges Recommended

“In the upcoming special session, we request that the Governor, Assembly and Senate of New York State consider a proposal to improve the process for determining compensation of judges, legislators and other senior State officials. We refer to the proposal to create a Quadrennial Commission that has been put forward by Chief Judge Judith Kaye as the means by which compensation should be determined in the future. New York City has successfully employed a similar system since 1986. It has resulted in an open and independent approach to compensation issues.

“We also endorse Chief Judge Kaye’s argument that the State judiciary should be granted an immediate, retroactive pay raise, based on the crisis that New York State faces in the attraction and retention of judges whose salary levels have been frozen 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.

“A wide array of civic, good government and legal organizations support Chief Judge Kaye’s approach, including the Citizens Union of the City of New York; Fund for Modern Courts; New York County Lawyers’ Association; New York State Trial Lawyers Association; League of Women Voters; and Women's City Club of New York.

“We support giving judges raises this year and reforming the way that all senior State officials and legislators get salary increases in the future. Beginning in April 2007, every four years a Quadrennial Commission appointed by the Governor, legislative leaders and the Chief Judge would meet to determine a cost of living adjustment for judges, as well as legislators and State executives, if warranted by economic data and permissible under the budget.

“We urge the Governor to enact these final actions into law during the special session of the Legislature on December 13.”

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 global center of commerce, culture and innovation.