A proposal to increase the salary of the Cayuga County clerk could attract more candidates for the open seat this year. The county Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee advanced a proposal on Wednesday to increase the clerk’s salary by 3% annually starting in 2025.
The current salary for the county clerk is $83,047. With a 3% annual raise, the salary will increase to $85,538 in 2025, $88,104 in 2026, and $90,747 in 2027. The pay hike will be voted on by county lawmakers at their full meeting on Tuesday, and a local law is not necessary because legislators are acting before the new term for the clerk.
Longtime Cayuga County Clerk Sue Dwyer, a Republican, will not seek reelection this year. Legislator Chris Petrus is currently the only announced candidate for clerk, but others may join the race, especially if the pay hike is adopted.
The county clerk serves a four-year term and is responsible for overseeing four departments, including the local Department of Motor Vehicles. The clerk is also the county’s records management officer.
The proposal to increase the county clerk’s salary highlights the importance of competitive salaries in attracting qualified candidates to public service positions. The Cayuga County Legislature hopes that the pay hike will encourage more candidates to run for county clerk, ultimately leading to better representation for the community.
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