NIAGARA FALLS, NY - A new Niagara Falls City Councilman is suggesting a pay cut for himself and other elected officials including the Mayor. 2 on Your Side is asking, is it a campaign gimmick? Or a starting point for conversations on how to trim the budget for the financially struggling city?
Niagara Falls City Council will really get down to business this coming Wednesday, following its previous reorganization meeting. And that's when Councilman Christopher Voccio wants to start right off by seeking a ten percent pay cut for himself, the other four council members who make $12,000 each, and Mayor Paul Dyster who makes more than $77,000.
Now, compared to the overall city budget of more than $90 million, that amount of over $13,000 seems like a drop in the bucket. But Voccio points out, "It's a small number. I understand that but it's symbolic. There's something called leadership. And I think if we're gonna ask for our public employees to come forth with ideas to reduce expenses by five percent, we need to show them that we're serious. This is a crisis."
The crisis is the loss last year of that share of the Seneca's casino gaming revenue for the city and an anticipated budget deficit of $10 to 15 million.
Indeed, Voccio says it's part of his stated campaign goal in an overall plan to trim at least five percent from the Cataract City Budget. He proposes a City Hall task force to look for efficiencies.
But 2 on Your Side pressed for specifics:
Reporter: Are there any departments where you feel really efficiencies can be found. Can you name some departments?
Voccio replied: I would be surprised if there was any department where there couldn't be efficiencies.
2 On Your Side: When you ran for Council didn't you kinda already have an inkling that there might be some departments?
Voccio: I had an inkling that there could be efficiencies had. I believe that the people who work in this department or that department would know better than I would as to where the efficiencies can be found."
Other council members like City Council Chairman Andrew Touma question the pay cut, feeling that $12,000 dollars is fair compensation for their work. But otherwise on the overall plan, they see the merit and some have previously pushed for that same 5 percent cuts in city expenses.
Touma says, "I think that's what we need to focus on...operating expenses so I'm certainly on board with that. I'm not on board with the ten percent cut for salaries...I think that's more on the political end of it."
A representative for Mayor Dyster said they had no comment.
It's not clear if this pay cut plan will pass on Wednesday night when council meets and the Mayor may veto it without an override. But other council members agree that it may help jumpstart a discussion on city expenses.
It only applies to elected officials because most Niagara Falls City employees have union contracts. But council members say those contracts may also be re-examined to look for potential savings on health care benefits.