News Summary
In light of a looming budget crisis estimated between $258 million and $353 million, San Diego council members are exploring the option of rejecting future salary increases. Council President Joe LaCava and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell have shown interest in declining raises to assist with the city’s financial recovery. However, legal constraints prevent them from doing so, as current city charter regulations tie their salaries to state Superior Court judges, leading to substantial pay increases despite ongoing budget issues.
San Diego council members are considering the possibility of rejecting future pay raises amidst a significant budget crisis estimated to be between $258 million and $353 million. At least two members, Council President Joe LaCava and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, have expressed their desire to forgo these increases in an effort to contribute to the city’s financial recovery.
However, the legal landscape complicating this decision has been outlined by City Attorney Heather Ferbert, who states that under the current city charter, council members cannot legally decline pay raises. The city charter takes precedence over a salary ordinance that allows employees to refuse raises. Since the implementation of a 2018 ballot measure, which aimed to remove the uncomfortable scenario of council members voting on their salary increases, council members have lost the ability to vote on their compensation. Their salaries are now directly tied to the compensation of state Superior Court judges.
As a result of this arrangement, council members’ salaries rose from $182,955 to $183,545 in December, with further increases anticipated during forthcoming annual adjustments related to judicial salary increments. The current system also governs the pay of the mayor and city attorney, who are compensated at the same rate, but council members only receive 75% of the salary afforded to Superior Court judges.
Last December, Mayor Todd Gloria’s salary saw an elevation from $243,940 to $244,727, reflecting his extensive responsibilities, especially following the layoff of the former Chief Operating Officer. Despite calls from LaCava and Campbell for pay reductions amid the budget woes, the law does not presently mandate cuts for any other city employees. This puts additional pressure on council members as they are comparatively unique in their discussions over potential salary adjustments.
While the budget crisis necessitates harsher measures, Mayor Gloria’s proposed budget looks to eliminate 400 city jobs. Despite the significant budget shortfall, the financial impact of council members potentially giving up their raises would be minimal, yielding only approximately $6,000 in savings based on figures from December.
Critics of the salary structure argue that the current levels, established by the voter-approved Measure L, are excessively high compared to the previous pay rates of $75,000 for council members and $100,000 for the mayor in 2018. Currently, Mayor Gloria’s salary surpasses that of California Governor Gavin Newsom, which stands at $242,295, while individual council members earn more than members of Congress, whose salaries are set at $174,000.
Since the implementation of Measure L, which garnered over 78% of voter approval, the average annual pay for the mayor and council members has escalated from $775,000 to nearly $1.9 million. Despite the heated discussions surrounding the salary raises, supporters assert that these increased compensation levels are essential for attracting competent candidates qualified to navigate the complexities of municipal policy and legal challenges facing the city.
As the San Diego city council grapples with these important decisions during a budget crisis, the intersection of fiscal responsibility and legal constraints presents a challenging scenario for elected officials. Moving forward, potential legal challenges may arise concerning the interpretation of the city charter, as any disputes regarding Ferbert’s judgment could compel action through the court system.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune
- Wikipedia: San Diego
- Daily Item
- Google Search: San Diego city council salary
- NBC San Diego
- Google Scholar: San Diego budget crisis
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Diego city council
