Submitted Photo Randy Woodbury, Dunkirk Department of Public Works supervisor at left, is one of many public-sector managers who earn less than those they supervise. He is pictured with Marsha Beach and Mark Woods of the city finance department.

Management and department head salaries in the public sector appear to be under the microscope, especially considering the recent decisions in the city of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County. Though one entity’s council appears stuck in the 1990s, another is at least taking steps to make sure those in charge are properly compensated.

For what it’s worth, public unions across New York state have been driving pay increases during the last three decades. Before that period, those who were employed by a town, village, city or county understood their earnings would never be comparable to what was made in the private sector. In return, those workers were compensated with excellent health care and retirement benefits.

Shortly before the start of the 21st century, a shift began. Taxpayer-funded jobs — especially in economically challenged areas in upstate including the western region — saw a spike in earnings while keeping the golden goose of excellent benefits.

Those costs are all contractual — and have been approved by those we have locally elected. Rarely do those who serve on a municipal board vote “no” regarding the labor deals. In fact, most pacts are approved unanimously.

Looking at the two city budgets, which total more than $64 million combined in 2023, much of the expenses comes down to employee pay and benefits. Dunkirk’s 2022 staffing costs, according to seethroughny.net, were $9.6 million while Jamestown’s payroll was $17.2 million.

Chautauqua County totaled $59.9 million for its 1,372 employees at an average $45,073 in earnings per employee during the same time. Pay per employee in the cities, however, is significantly more with Jamestown at $67,975 and Dunkirk at $63,029.

All these numbers are significant when considering what those in charge of overseeing a staff and maintaining a department are receiving in a salaried position that does not include overtime pay. Last month, Chautauqua County legislators proactively approved a plan to increase pay ranges for its managers.

“The two … local laws are to increase the salary ranges, not salaries,” said Deborah Makowski, human resources director, before the vote. “Basically, the only financial impact from the proposed local laws is six individuals who would then fall below the minimum of their newly assigned range. … That total impact would cost $9,948.”

This premise has some value. It rewards those who are on call around the clock — and maintains a sense of appreciation for those in charge.

Dunkirk, unfortunately, has it wrong. Council members continue to work at penalizing those who oversee departments. Consider the Department of Public Works supervisor, who earns only $63,000 annually. There are a number of members on his staff — who work hourly — collecting more than that. By comparison, the position in Jamestown pays nearly $100,000.

Council’s tiff with Mayor Wilfred Rosas that ended this week regarding a new city attorney is just as maddening. Most lawyers are compensated through billable hours with their client. In hiring Michael Bobseine, the city will pay just $55,000 for a year of services.

That’s a steal when comparing how much the Webster Szanyi firm charged Fredonia – a whopping $234,000 in 2021. The two members of the Jamestown corporation counsel earned a combined $137,000 in 2022.

Even the chiefs of the police and fire departments, while compensated at some of the highest levels, are not the top wage earners in their units. Both city police and fire chiefs lag behind those who are in their final years on the job and ready to bank out for retirement. As an example, the highest paid individual in Dunkirk was a police officer at $128,396. The chief’s pay was about $8,500 less. In Jamestown, the highest paid at $152,830 was a member of the fire department. Its chief, who took over partly through 2022, earned $24,000 less.

Good leadership is often tough to find. But when public-sector pay appears to be penalizing those who are at the helm, it also will likely discourage potential supervisor candidates in the future. That is something every local government needs to consider.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-366-3000, ext. 253.