Shouldn't the Cuts Start at the Top?
In general
looking at the salary schedule the city seems to be
very top-heavy with administration. Many of these positions seem to be paid an
amount larger than necessary. A good place to start making changes would seem
to be the mayor's budget.
Mayor's budget FY
09 baseline
Staffing: Mayor, Chief of Staff,
Constituent Services Manager, Coastal/Environmental Policy consultant
Personnel
Services $572,468
Services and
Supplies $32,648
Total Mayor
Budget $605,116
(Mayor &
Mr. Rindone suggested10% reduction) ($60,278)
FY 08-09 Adjusted
Budget (same as 07-08) $544,838 (cost per
resident $2.39)
|
Salaries: Mayor
& staff |
base |
health |
Retirement |
other
benefits |
Total |
cost
per resident |
|
Mayor: |
$120,497 |
$13,738
|
$34,833 |
$13,747 |
$182,
816 |
80
cents |
|
Chief
of Staff |
$126,657 |
$12,323 |
$36,638 |
$9,170 |
$184,788 |
81
cents |
|
Constituent
Services Manager |
$66,225 |
$10,741 |
$19,168 |
$960 |
$97,094 |
43
cents |
|
Coastal/Environmental
Policy Consultant |
$87,414 |
$10,927 |
$25,294 |
$1,268 |
$124,903 |
55
cents |
*MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO (ALSO
CITY MANAGER) $100,464 (base) (8 cents per resident)
City Council Administration (shared by all
5 members) FY 09 baseline
Staffing: Executive Secretary,
Office Specialist
Personnel services $179,007
Services and supplies $127,045
Utilities $1,925
Total city
Council Administration $307,977
(Mayor & Mr.Rindone suggested10% reduction) ($25,703)
FY 08-09 Adjusted
Budget $282,274 (cost per
resident $1.23)
|
Salaries: staff |
base |
health |
Retirement |
other
benefits |
Total |
cost
per resident |
|
Executive
Secretary |
$67,781 |
$10,138 |
$19,618 |
$983 |
$98,520 |
43
cents |
|
Office
Specialist |
$39,151 |
$9,353 |
$11,689 |
$1,785 |
$61,977 |
27
cents |
Each Council Seat (part-time)
(1-4) '09 baseline
Staffing:
Councilperson, Senior Council Assistant
Personnel Services $153,230
Services and supplies $16,574
Total Council Seat Budget $169,804
(Mayor & Mr. Rindone
suggested10% reduction) ($15,719)
FY 08-09 Adjusted Budget $154,085 (cost per
resident 68 cents)
|
Salaries: |
base |
health |
Retirement |
other
benefits |
Total |
cost
per resident |
|
Council
Person |
$48,199 |
$12,678 |
$13,933 |
$7,299 |
$82,109 |
36
cents |
|
Senior
Council Assistant |
$38,011 |
$9,876 |
$11,012 |
$551 |
$59,451 |
26
cents |
*SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL
PERSON $75,386 (base) (cost per resident 6 cents)
Questions:
1. The mayor is full-time why does the mayor need
three staff people to do the work a full time person should be doing?
2. The Coastal/Environmental Policy Consultant was
added when Mayor Padilla was appointed to the Coastal Commission. No one is on
the Coastal Commission now. Why are we still paying for this position?
3. Why does the mayor need a chief of staff who gets
paid more than the mayor does, and more than the budget for an entire council
seat?
4. The duties of the mayor
are the same as the other council members except for chairing meetings and
representing the city. Why is the mayor's budget almost four times that of each
other council member?
5. Since we are cutting Taste For the Arts for lack
of $27,000 and a full-time staff person, reducing services to residents,
cutting music in the park in half, etc.
isn't it time to significantly reduce the mayor's budget and, perhaps, for
the council to put a measure on the ballot to amend the charter so that the
mayor's salary can be reduced?
6. Should the mayor of Chula
Vista be paid more than the mayor of San Diego, every other mayor in this
county and 7 of the mayors of the 18 largest cities in the nation? We have a
city manager form of government. How can we justify paying a mayor 66% of the
salary of a superior court judge when this ends up so out of line with other
municipalities?
7. Clearly the mayor's budget should be
significantly reduced in this time of budgetary stress. No member of the
council, including the mayor, is supposed to be interfering in how the city is
run. There is no need for these staff people, who duplicate jobs done by
regular staff who report to the City Manager. We have a City Manager form of
government and the Charter is very clear about non-interference:
Sec.
305. Prohibited Acts.
No member of the Council shall directly or
indirectly, by suggestion or otherwise, attempt to unduly influence the City Manager
or other officer appointed or confirmed by the Council in their performance of
duties.
The Mayor and the Councilmen are hereby individually
and collectively prohibited from performing any administrative or executive
functions except as same may be authorized by this Charter or by ordinance of
the City of Chula Vista.
Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Council and
its members shall deal with that part of the administrative service for which
the City Manager is responsible solely through the City Manager.
A violation of the provisions of this section by any
member of the Council shall constitute misconduct for which the offending
member may be removed from office by the Council.