Stamford Superintendent, Cabinet Members To Forego Pay Increases

STAMFORD, CT — Superintendent Tamu Lucero announced this week she and members of her cabinet will voluntarily forego pay increases for the next two fiscal years. The superintendent’s cabinet includes senior leaders of the human resources, finance and public affairs departments, as well as the associate superintendents.

In an announcement, Lucero attributed the decision to a "more than $65 million projected financial decrease in revenue" due to the new coronavirus' impact on the city.

"My team and I recognize that our school community has been gravely impacted by the coronavirus epidemic, and we all must share in reducing the final impact it has on the Stamford community long term," Lucero said in a statement. "If we all are willing to assume a portion of the burden, we may be able to retain some programs and services in our schools and in our city."

The announcement noted that district cabinet positions are based on annually issued one-year term sheets.

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The decision comes less than a week after Mayor David Martin announced that he and other city officials will voluntarily take an "immediate reduction in current salaries."

See also: Stamford Mayor, City Officials Make Voluntary Salary Reductions

According to a prepared statement sent out by the city last week, those taking a salary reduction include all cabinet members, all special assistants, members of the police and fire departments, 911 command staff and other non-union members of the city's pay plan.

Additionally, pay plan employees will forgo their planned salary increase that was to take effect this coming fiscal year, officials said.

"The economic impact of this virus on our community means every resident in Stamford has been forced to make difficult decisions in this new reality, including myself and my staff," Martin said in a statement last week. "I want to thank every city pay plan employee who has willingly volunteered to make this personal financial sacrifice. They are all working overtime during this pandemic to help keep the community safe."

See also: Stamford Coronavirus Updates: City Has 2,788 Confirmed Cases

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The virus, also referred to as COVID-19, is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.