Model City Charter Revision Project - Eighth Edition
Option Memo
Issue: Council and Mayor Compensation
Seventh Edition: "The city council may determine the annual
salary of the mayor and council members by ordinance, but no ordinance
increasing such salary shall become effective until the date of commencement
of the terms of council members elected at the next regular election.
The mayor and council members shall receive their actual and necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office."
Pros of limiting: The Commentary says "It is assumed that
council members will earn their major income from private employment.
In determining the compensation of council members, it should be recognized
that under this charter they are part-time officials and are not involved
in day-to-day management as is the case when the council committees
under weak-mayor charters or commissioners (or council members) under
the commission plan actually direct the city departments. A salary too
close to a full-time salary could encourage council members to think
of their positions as managerial and thus detract from their role as
legislators or policy-makers." Thus, holding elected office is
a community service and only modest compensation is offered to elected
officials. A compensatory salary can make council membership a career
endeavor. It also tends to drive up the cost of campaigns.
Cons of limiting: The Commentary says "the Model rejects
the setting of the actual amount of compensation in the charter except
for the salary of the first council after the charter goes into effect
(see sec. 9.05(f))." Salary caps may limit the range of candidates,
and affect the goal of attracting quality public servants. In cities
medium-sized and large cities, holding elected office involves a substantial
time commitment. The premise in the commentary that this extra time
is spent dealing with day-to-day management is not warranted, although
council members do spend a considerable amount of time dealing with
constituency concerns. The time on meetings, reviewing material, getting
information on issues, and constituency relations is considerable and
a normal part of the position. The time demands mean that elected officials
in larger cities often do not receive their income from private employment
but from accumulated wealth or retirement income.
Two Options: The Committee should adopt one of the following
positions by the end of the December 7th meeting:
- The Model should continue to place no limit on council and mayor
compensation.
- The Model should limit council and mayor compensation.
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