Suffolk County, NY - January 16th, 2015 - Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III followed through on a promise to freeze his legislative salary at the 2014 rate earlier this month. Lindsay III, a freshman legislator, needed to wait until his first year was complete for the freeze to officially take effect. If no freeze was initiated by Lindsay III, he would have received a cost of living adjustment (COLA) which would have been near the 10 year COLA average of 2.7%.
"I made a promise to the residents of my district to cut government waste and unnecessary spending. So I have frozen my salary indefinitely because it's not right for me to get a raise, while so many families are struggling to make ends meet."
Lindsay III also proposed legislation that would have ended automatic pay increases for all Suffolk County Elected Officials in March of 2014, however that legislation failed. Nevertheless, Lindsay III made it clear, in a letter to Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy earlier this month, that he would continue to advocate for salary reform and forego any increase in his own legislative salary throughout his entire stint in office.
“I am committed to serving the residents of the eighth legislative district; I have not taken a county car or cell phone, I have reduced spending within my own office, in terms of staff and rent, and I do not plan to ever take a salary increase,” said Lindsay III. “My focus is on solving the problems facing Suffolk County and my record has shown that I am committed to that goal.”
Lindsay III’s rent decreased 25% after moving his office in April of 2014, saving $12,000 annually. Additional cost savings are associated with refusing to take a county car, cellphone, and gas reimbursements.
