Suffolk lawmakers to tweak nonprofit exec pay bill following pushback

The sponsors of a controversial Suffolk County bill that would cap executive pay at nonprofits contracted by the county are revising parts of the legislation after fellow Republicans expressed apprehension in supporting it.

The bill, sponsored by Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) and Legis. Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), once again came before a public hearing during Tuesday's legislature meeting. The legislature voted 11-6 along party lines to recess the public hearing, which keeps the bill alive and allows for amendments. The next regular meeting is set for Nov. 26.

The measure would bar the county from funding nonprofits that pay any employee more than the New York governor’s budgeted annual salary, which currently stands at $250,000. It would also require all nonprofits to list all gifts and donations they receive along with the donors. The restriction would not apply to nonprofit hospital systems or federally qualified health centers such as the Sun River Health system.

Several members of the majority Republican caucus, including Nick Carracappa (R-Centereach), James Mazzarella (R-Moriches) and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), said they would not support the bill as it was written in part because it singles out the nonprofit sector. 

"I understand that the purpose of it was to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized in the most efficient and effective way," Bontempi said Tuesday. "But if that is truly the goal, then ... there needs to be a complete overhaul of this legislation, and it needs to be something that doesn't target nonprofits, because you [nonprofits] do such wonderful work."

The Democratic caucus remains opposed to the bill. It would need a simple majority of 10 to pass, but it is not clear if it will get that support. Legislation expires if it is not adopted by the end of the year.

Backers of the legislation did not speak publicly Tuesday.

Meanwhile, about 20 nonprofit representatives once again urged lawmakers to reject the proposal during the second public hearing on the matter Tuesday. Speakers said the proposed law could make it difficult for nonprofits to recruit top talent and have a chilling effect on their willingness to work with the county.

"Bear with us while we continue to explore this issue and take your suggestions to heart, and hopefully we'll come up with some sort of an agreement on this legislation," Bergin said Tuesday.

Bergin and Trotta — who introduced the bill July 30 — say they are likely to split the measure into two bills, but Trotta said they are committed to a $250,000 salary cap for the nonprofit sector. It is not clear what specific changes they will make. Bergin could not be reached for comment Thursday.

"Given the dramatic support I've received from my constituents, we're not going to back down on these salary caps," Trotta told Newsday Thursday. He noted constituents have privately expressed their support and scores have posted publicly in favor of it on Trotta’s Facebook account.

Trotta’s remarks came about three weeks after he made an unannounced visit to a Family and Children’s Association drug clinic in Hicksville which was captured on camera. FCA CEO Jeff Reynolds complained to the state Department of Health that the visit was inappropriate and disrupted operations. Trotta said he was doing his due diligence in researching the facility and did nothing wrong.

More than 20 nonprofits that contract with the county to offer services ranging from help for drug addiction to feeding the food insecure could be affected since they have employees earning more than $250,000, according to annual disclosure reports filed with the county comptroller’s office.

Trotta and Bergin said the bill would provide legislative oversight of nonprofits that receive tax dollars, but critics have called it a government overreach and argue it is not projected to save taxpayer money.

"We've all spent enough time on this," said Reynolds, who has publicly sparred with Trotta on the bill. "We've all heard the facts. You've all heard the arguments. I urge you to put a stop to this bill now."

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese covers Suffolk County government and politics. She joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.