Joelle Shrestha Click on photo for larger image

Joelle Shrestha: City salaries need to fall in line
Right Thinking
Wednesday, June 02, 2026

“If you think $50,000 is a lot of money, you need to get out into the world more.” Those stinging words are from the wife of a Tonawanda police officer. That response was left on my voice mail after the publication of my column last week, in which I questioned the salaries of municipal employees — including cops.

The arrogance is shocking.

Yes, ma’am, $50,000 is a lot of money, not only to me but to most of your neighbors. Average Tonawandans don’t make $50,000. They don’t make $40,000. The average income in the city of Tonawanda hovers around $37,000.

Compare that to these numbers from the TPD: Charles Kisloski, retired lieutenant, $102,274.82; Fredric Foels, $76,989.50; James Harmon, $73,279.91; Patrick Rank, $66,346.19.

So the $50,000-plus (and I emphasizes the PLUS) your hubby pulls in each year to patrol the streets of Tonawanda is a lot of money to most of us. I’m sure most people, except for criminals, have the utmost respect for the job they do. But face it, they’re overpaid.

There, I said it.

Just like teachers, who think what they do is rocket science and hustle their way to taxpayer-draining salaries with the argument “But it’s for the childruuuun.” I can still hear their droning voices at school board meetings, with PTA groupies at their side harassing the board, who like the rest of us are tapped out taxpayers.

Teaching is tough. I have a handful of teachers in my own family. But no teacher deserves more than $60,000 a year. Not when you consider the average income in this area.

Mrs. Tonawanda Cop went on to say that police officers have to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No they don’t. They work 8-hour shifts, just like most other Americans. And this is Tonawanda. Not New York City or Buffalo. We don’t have drive-bys, and violent crime is minimal.

While you, Mrs. Tonawanda Cop, are protected by top-of-the-line benefits, most Tonawandans can only imagine what it’s like to have such health care or pensions. And it’s tough paying your bills when you’re making that average $37,000 a year. You should try it.

How dare you say $50,000 isn’t a lot of money, when those who pay the salaries of people like your husband would appreciate it? If we’re to continue paying such salaries, perhaps we should merge with the Town of Tonawanda; spread the cost over more people. Then again, the thought of moving out from this hub of traditionalism — ”we do this because we’ve always done it like this” — can be scary.

We’ve always had X number of cops and firemen, even though a city of three-square miles only warrants X number. Someone from the outside may come in and be shocked over the “way it’s always been done.” And they may even ask, “Why is it done this way?”

The fact is, most of us are salivating over what municipal employees make. You think every time the Tonawanda News publishes the salaries of municipal employees, it’s the talk of the town because our readers think the salaries are fair and just?

They are astonished!

Step outside the safe walls of municipal employment for a moment. You are working in the private sector. There are a few “givens” you have to get used to.

n Raises are not guarantees. If the business isn’t doing well, don’t expect a raise; not even a small one. This begs the questions, when there are tough times in a city, why do the salaries of municipal employees keep going up?

n No union to hustle the boss for a raise or other entitlements.

n Sometimes you have to work late and not get paid for it. If you don’t want to put in a few extra hours a week to get the job done, someone else out there will.

I’m sure many Tonawandans — those who aren’t “out in the world enough” to know $50,000 isn’t a lot of money and work like fools in the private sector — can think of a few more “givens” to give our friends at City Hall an idea of what it’s like to work in the real world.

Contact Joelle Shresthaat (716) 693-1000, Ext. 113.
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