Albany, N.Y. – Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado continues to draw a $220,000 annual salary even though the governor’s office has reassigned most of the duties he once performed. The reduction in responsibilities began after Delgado announced in February 2025 that he would not run again as Gov. Kathy Hochul’s running mate.

Reallocation of duties

Governor Hochul’s communications director, Anthony Hogrebe, said the administration would “reallocate responsibilities within the administration to ensure that important initiatives that had been within the Lieutenant Governor’s office are no longer neglected.” The move effectively left Delgado with only the constitutional role of presiding over the state Senate and stepping in for the governor when required.

Failed attempts to obtain a schedule

CBS6 filed a Freedom of Information Law request in April for Delgado’s official calendar. More than seven months later, the request remains unanswered, with the agency issuing multiple extensions. An October inquiry to the governor’s press office also went unanswered.

When CBS6 reporter Briana Supardi visited the former office space in Room 246 of the State Capitol, a construction worker answered the door and reported that the room was under renovation. Phone calls to the lieutenant governor’s office were directed to voicemail, and an email sent to the office’s address returned an automated reply stating the address was no longer active.

Public‑record advocates weigh in

Blair Horner, senior policy adviser for the New York Public Interest Research Group, argued that elected officials should make their calendars publicly available without requiring a formal FOIL request. “Every taxpayer in New York has a right to know what any elected official is doing, including the lieutenant governor,” Horner said.

Horner suggested that the prolonged delay may indicate a reluctance to disclose how little work remains for Delgado. “New York government in general tends to drag its feet when it comes to fulfilling freedom of information requests if they don’t want to,” he added.

Constitutional duties remain

Under the New York Constitution, the lieutenant governor serves as president of the state Senate and assumes the governor’s duties under certain circumstances. However, day‑to‑day responsibilities are largely assigned by the governor. Senate rules allow another official to preside over proceedings, meaning Delgado does not have to be present for every session.

Because the lieutenant governor is independently elected, he cannot be removed by the governor and will remain in office until the end of his term on Dec. 31, 2026, regardless of the scope of his portfolio.

Salary context

Delgado’s $220,000 salary translates to roughly $18,300 per month of taxpayer‑funded compensation. While his public Facebook page shows occasional appearances at events, his official lieutenant‑governor page has not been updated since February 2025, leaving the full extent of his work unverified.

What this means for taxpayers

New York residents are left questioning whether the current arrangement provides sufficient value for the salary paid. Transparency advocates continue to press for a complete release of Delgado’s schedule and a clearer definition of his role moving forward.

Original reporting: CBS 6 WRGB Albany (local) — read the source article.