January 9, 2008

 DA Budget Adjustment Not a Raise

TROY--- According to Rensselaer County Legislature Minority Leader Ginny O'Brien, "The GOP has tinkered with newly elected District Attorney Rich McNally's budget ever since November's election. It amounts to political punishment, pure and simple." 

At last night's meeting, several Republicans griped about McNally's request to restore the salary of his First Assistant District Attorney to the level it had been in the proposed county budget, before election. The budget amendment ultimately passed by a vote of 12-5.

"Before the new DA took office, the Majority removed over $32,000 from his personnel code.  Now, when he wants to put $5000 of it back, they're calling it a raise.  That's absurd.  It is not a raise.  It is money that had been proposed for the District Attorney that should not have been removed in the first place," O'Brien said.

"Mr. Mirch knows the difference between this request and a raise, said Kevin Harrington, a member of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee.  "He's mixing apples and oranges.  A raise is what the Majority gave its staffer, Rich Crist, by increasing his salary over 50% in two years, raising it from $59,000 in 2006 to $88,000 in 2008.

"The people elected Rich McNally District Attorney and we should give him the opportunity to organize his office as he sees fit. He should not have his hands tied when it comes to running his office."

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