By Bert Gambini
Albany, NY – Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to cap the salaries of the state's school superintendents to help local school districts save money.
"We must wake up to the new economic reality that government must be more efficient and cut the cost of the bureaucracy. 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," said Governor Cuomo.
The cap would be based upon student enrollment and if approved would save a combined $15 million.
Cuomo's bill would provide for a salary of $125,000 for the smallest rural districts and up to $175,000 for the largest districts.
The eight highest paid superintendents in Erie and Niagara Counties have a combined salary of nearly $1.6 million, ranging from $176,000 in the Cheektowaga-Sloan District to $227,000 for Howard Smith, the Superintendent of Williamsville Schools.
Buffalo Schools Superintendent James Williams earns more than $223,000. WBFO News reached out to his office for comment on this story, but we did not receive a response.
Currently, 223, or 33 percent of school district superintendents earn more than $175,000.