Maragos sought to raise deputy's pay

Despite the fiscal crisis, Nassau Comptroller George Maragos tried in July to increase deputy comptroller James Garner's salary by $20,000. Maragos hired the former Hempstead Village mayor, a fellow Republican, two months earlier for $110,000 a year. Brian Nevin, spokesman for County Executive Edward Mangano, said, "The administration informed the comptroller that we would not process this salary increase because the county currently has a wage freeze in place." But Maragos aides called it a "salary adjustment." Garner "was hired in May with the understanding that he would have a two-tiered salary," said Chief Deputy Comptroller Frank Moroney. "In July, when his salary was scheduled to increase, no salary adjustment was made due to the continuing financial condition of the county."-- Celeste Hadrick