The Sebastian City Council could ask voters to give future members a raise.
The council is considering asking voters to approve changes to the City Charter proposed by the Charter Review Committee. The committee, which reviews the charter every five years, has suggested changes for council salaries and qualifications.
The council May 26 unanimously approved the committee’s recommendations, setting public hearings June 24 and July 8. The council is to decide after the July 8 public hearing whether to put the proposed amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.
One of the proposals is to increase City Council member and vice mayor’s monthly salaries from $300 to $600, and the mayor’s salary from $450 monthly to $750. If approved by voters, salaries would increase each year by the same percentage as other city employees as a cost-of-living increase.
Increasing the salaries would cost the city $18,000 annually. An effective date for the potential raises would be included in ballot language if the current council moves the changes forward.
Council member Sherri Matthews had concerns about raises.
“I’m not serving for the pay,” she said. “I’m serving as a good community member who wants to serve their city.”
Other council members disagreed, saying the Charter Review Committee came up with the proposed increases, likely for a future council.
“I don’t feel this is about us,” said Council member Christopher Nunn. “It’s about future representatives.”
Council member Ed Dodd said his monthly travel spending — on gas, for example, traveling to meetings — probably is more than he’s paid.
Other proposed charter changes include:
Colleen Wixon is the Indian River County government watchdog reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida city council considers asking voters for a raise
Reporting by Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
