Nov 15, 2008 2:07 pm US/Eastern
Official Turns Down 25K Raise Due To Slow Economy
Yorktown's Highway Superintendent Declines Hefty Raise And Additional Bonus To Help Taxpayers
Other Town Officials Follow His Example, Turn Away Raises Too
YORKTOWN, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Yorktown Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo turned down a $25,000 raise from the town because of the current economic crisis.
CBS
Would you refuse a $25,000 raise?
As Americans deal with the economic crisis, several officials in Yorktown are saying "no" to pay hikes.
"I can't in my heart look in the mirror and take a $25,000 raise when people are losing their homes," says Yorktown Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo.
DiBartolo says don't get him wrong, he could definitely use the money. Still, he's turning down a big pay hike from the town of Yorktown.
DiBartolo makes $125,000 as highway superintendent. Last year, his responsibilities tripled as the town put him in charge of manpower at parks and the water department. His mission: cut expenses.
In just one year DiBartolo saved the town more than $600,000. At the water department the budget reduction was almost beyond belief at 42 percent.
Because of his success, the town agreed to hike DiBartolo's pay by $25,000, and even give him a $21,000 bonus too, but then the economy spiraled into crisis.
"In good conscience Eric DiBartolo is not taking a raise. Nothing more than to say to the people of Yorktown that I serve, I understand your pain and at this point in time it would be horrible for me to take that money, so I'm not taking it," he says.
Don Peters, Yorktown's Local Supervisor, says when DiBartolo decided to forego his big raise, the town board was inspired.
"All the elected officials decided we wouldn't take our raises either for the same reason," Peters says.
Tax watchdog Ed Ciffone of the United Taxpayers of Yorktown calls it an amazing turn of events. No three-percent hikes for the town board, no $25,000 for DiBartolo.
And because DiBartolo and the other turned down their hikes, Yorktown was able to reduce next year's tax hike to less than three-percent.
"The end result is the taxpayers are saving money. How can you argue with that?" says Ciffone.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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