HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/1/2018 Item 13, SLO U40
From:Vanessa Igel <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Statement on Compensation for tonight's meeting
Attachments:SLO U40 Council Compensation-Position Statement.pdf
Hello Madam Mayor and Council Members,
Please find attached a SLO U40 statement on compensation that we will be reading during public comment tonight.
Thank you for this opportunity,
SLO U40 Steering Committee
1
The mission of SLO U40 is to inform and inspire people of all ages to act on issues that impact
the Under -40 residents of SLO County. We believe the issue of council compensation is one
that needs to be addressed. SLO U40 reviews issues through the lens of our seven focus areas,
one of which is Diversity, including financial diversity in our county.
We believe that city council's compensation, including the mayor's, should reflect the current
demands of the position and be competitive to attract a diverse pool of candidates. Through
our research and public documents, council members are compensated $1,200 a month and
the mayor is at $1,500 a month.
A majority of our city council members also have full-time jobs as their primary source of income
and the demands of the position affect their work schedules and income. We also see that most
mayors have not worked outside of their mayoral role so this is their primary source of income,
at approximately $18,000 a year.
This isn't a living wage in the community they are required to reside in. This systematic
disconnect affects all residents that may be interested in running for office, but especially the
under 40 citizens that are building their careers and starting families. Compensation shouldn't
be the only factor for why a candidate chooses public service, but a fair and living wage would
support more candidates that are qualified to be in office and not only those who can afford it.
SLO U40 is in support of a salary increase for both the mayoral position & city council, more
than the 10 percent currently recommended by the Council Compensation Committee. A more
substantial compensation of $2,500 per month for the mayoral position would compensate for
the time commitment of the position & allow a mayor to live where they govern.
Offering a livable wage will allow a more diverse pool of candidates to consider running for
office. SLO U40 also recommends City Council members compensation be 50 percent of the
mayors at $1,250 dollars per month. This compensation request is miniscule in relation to the
city's budget and will allow greater diversity in representation. Offering a slightly higher
competitive wage will support the city in attracting competent leaders that can take on our
financial challenges, now and in the future.
We want to see the mayor and city council positions attracting the most qualified candidates
looking to serve the city, not just the candidates that can afford to take on the role. We thank
you for your consideration and hope you will seriously consider increasing the current salary
beyond the 10 percent recommendation.
Thank you,
SLO U40 Steering Committee