At least one Chautauqua County legislator thinks the clerk is overpaid.

Legislator Bob Bankoski of Dunkirk, the Democratic leader in the County Legislature, is proposing a $10,000 reduction in the county clerk’s salary. “In 2024 I voted against a huge $17,800 salary increase for the county clerk,” he said. “That increase was larger than the increase for the county executive or sheriff. With that $17,800 increase, the clerk is now costing county taxpayers $89,300 plus generous benefits.”

Bankoski stated that in 2018 the Republican majority in the Legislature decided that $55,550 was an appropriate salary for the clerk. “For the first time in County history they also gave the Clerk an automatic cost-of-living increase, which raised his $55,550 salary to $71,500 for 2025.

“On top of the automatic annual cost of living increases, the Republican majority this year gave the County Clerk an additional $17,800 boost, making his pay an excessive $89,300 plus benefits,” Bankoski observed.

Bankoski noted last week Republican state Sen. George Borello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor made headlines after opposing pay raises for state legislators. “I share their concern about salaries that are too high for elected officials here in Chautauqua County.” he said.

Borrello, on a state level, said, “At a time when families are tightening their belts, the Legislature should be focused on putting more money back in the wallets of the people we represent, not adding more to our own.”

Bankoski pointed out, “As a sponsor of the ‘Affordability Act of 2026’ I am committed to tax relief for the residents of Chautauqua County so that they can afford to continue to live here. Reducing a bloated salary for the county clerk not only helps with our tax relief goal but it helps the county maintain an appropriate undesignated fund balance or ‘slush fund.’ ”

“The County Clerk who just took office 2 months ago has publicly challenged the Legislature to protect the County’s $35,000,000 Unappropriated Fund Balance. By reducing the County Clerk’s salary by $10,000 a year we will help protect the County’s Fund Balance.” Bankoski said.

Bankoski plans to prefile a Local Law for the April Legislature meeting to reduce the County Clerk’s “excessive salary by $10,000,” he said.