Gov to Propose Salary Cap for School Superintendents

Earlier this week Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he will propose a bill to place a cap on the salaries of school superintendents across New York State.

Under the proposal, most Nassau County superintendents would only be able to earn a maximum of $175,000 per year.

"We must wake up to the new economic reality that government must be more efficient and cut the cost of the bureaucracy," Governor Cuomo said. "We must streamline government because raising taxes is not an option. Reducing back-office overhead, administration, consultants and encouraging consolidations are the best targets to find savings."

The cap would only affect school superintendents and could only be applied after existing contracts expire. However, each individual district would have the voting power to overturn the salary cap and could do so during school budget votes.

Currently more that 33 percent of school superintendents in New York State earn more than $175,000. According to Cuomo's office, this bill has the potential of  $150 million in savings.

Seaford Superintendent Brian Conboy is paid an annual salary of $200,000, according to Administrative Compensation Information for 2010-2011 from the New York State Education Department.

"I think its dangerous for a state government to have the ability to make a decision about something that should be decided locally," said Conboy in response to Gov. Cuomo's proposal. “Removing the local school board’s ability to collectively bargain with their employees is the wrong thing to do.”

Conboy has agreed to his pay increase for the next school year in light of budget challenges the district is facing due to cuts in state aid and the struggling economy.

Wantagh Superintendent Dr. Lydia Begley's annual salary is $218,360, according to State Department of Education figures. Dr. Begley could not be reached for comment on Cuomo's cap proposal.

The cap would impose salary limits as follows:

* Salary data is from the NYS Education Department's Administrative Compensation Information for 2010-2011