Press Releases

The Empire Center for Public Policy today released the 2014 edition of “What They Make,” an overview of local government payrolls for the counties, towns, cities and villages (outside New York City) for the period of April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. Read More

The highest-paid local government employee in the region was Onondaga Community College Senior Vice President David W. Murphy, who was paid $195,462. The second highest-paid employee was Jason T. Stepkovitch, a psychiatrist who was paid $189,894 by Cortland County. Read More

The Center’s analysis revealed that all 11 of the highest-paid municipal employees in the North County (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties) were employed by Massena Memorial Hospital or Lewis County General Hospital; 10 of these employees had the same pay ($255,000) during this period. Read More

Responding to McMahon’s presentation will be a panel of local officials, including Mayor Ernest Davis (Mount Vernon), Mayor Noam Bramson (New Rochelle), Mayor Randy Sellier (Pelham Manor), Mayor Anne McAndrews (Larchmont), City Manager Al Gatta (Scarsdale) and Village Trustee Chris Reim (Pelham). Read More

Local governments should consider sharing services to help reduce costs and maintain services to residents, suggests a new report from the Empire Center for Public Policy. “Municipal Cooperation: Sharing Services in NY,” explores the different ways localities in New York can and do share services to save money. Read More