MidHudson News is reporting 13 Dutchess County legislators have pledged to donate a scheduled $477 raise to charity. In 2019, a three percent increase was approved by a previous legislature for the 2021 calendar year, increasing lawmaker salaries from $15,914 to $16,391. Under state and county law, the current legislature was prohibited from changing their own salary during the 2021 county budget process. Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver, Budget and Finance Chairman Will Truitt, and Majority Leader Donna Bolner circulated a pledge to their colleagues and are publishing an open letter to county residents. Each legislator was offered an opportunity to join the pledge. The signatories are all Republicans. “Our county employees are the best in the state,” said Pulver. “Time and again they have proven to be innovators, savers, devoted, and dutiful while they carry out their work for the residents of this County. This budget was tougher than usual and although the near future looks hopeful but still uncertain, employee raises were not able to happen. It isn’t right that legislators receive a raise and employees don’t so a few of us teamed up with this idea. I am involved with a group that provides a full Thanksgiving and Christmas meal in Northern Dutchess and I’ve never seen the need this high. Every day, our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity and children go to bed hungry — I’m glad to bring attention to this issue and I hope others join me.” Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.