- April 18, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Mayor David Alfin is absolutely correct with his assumption that having a low wage reduces the talent pool for City Council candidates.
When I moved to Palm Coast, I noticed that all of the council members were retirees. In 2016, I was approached to run for City Council. I graduated with an MBA in finance in 2006 and have 35 years of business experience. I thought I would have something to offer, since I understood the numbers.
During my evaluation for running for the position, I watched a few meetings online and spoke to former council members about the job duties and how many hours each week/month they spent on city business. The answer was pretty much the same: Most of the gentlemen said the position was almost like a full-time job. The required attendance and meeting preparation about 20 to 25 hours per week was spent working on city business. Then add the event attendance. Lastly, I asked about the pay and benefits. I was surprised at the $9,600, salary without benefits.
As an involved member of the community, I understand community service. As a working member of the community, I realized that I would not be able to financially afford to take 20 to 25 hours minimum away from my commission-based business. The $9,600 annual pay was not sufficient, and I did not run for office.
As an officeholder, the elected officials are expected to support local charities and many, many activities. The following organizations hold fundraisers: Flagler County Sheriff, Humane Society, Rotary, Kiwanis, Flagler Education Foundation, along with at least 10 others — and all ticket expense is out of pocket.
The pay structure as it stands recruits, wealthy or retired people. The makeup of the City Council does not represent the average citizen of Palm Coast. Adjusting for inflation, the $9,600 set 26 years ago would be at a minimum $17,000 today. Expenses for community events should be reimbursed and, of course, any city business travel.
I support a pay increase that would start following the end of the current council term. A formula should be created to compensate for inflation, the population growth, the number of hours required, and event attendance need to be reimbursed. This formula would predetermine increases in future years to remain in place and the city pay structure would remain current. The City Council and mayors positions are part-time executive positions and deserve executive compensation.
Sharon Demers
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
I am writing in qualified support for a Palm Coast City Council pay raise. Not to the degree that Mayor David Alfin has proposed, but an increase nonetheless.
The Mayor of Palm Coast makes $11,400 and council members $9,600 annually. I am told the mayor and City Council has a 20-hour work week. As a former small town mayor, I assure you that 20 hours would be a minimum, especially with the growth Palm Coast is experiencing. Based upon my personal experience, conservatively add 50% to that total.
But, for the sake of argument, let’s assume a 20-hour work week. That’s 1,040 hours annually. For council members that is $9.23 hourly. For the mayor, it is $10.96 hourly. Surely Palm Coast can do better.
Alfin’s argument that higher salaries attract more/better candidates appears valid with a brief internet search. I am aware of a former city councilman, an attorney, who could not continue as he was losing too many billable hours in his law practice.
My proposal would be to double the mayor and City Council salary to $22,800 and $19,20, respectively. This is a significant pay increase that seems fair, as it is obvious current salaries are ridiculously low.
In addition, I propose the council draft an ordinance stating any pay increases be voted on at each General Election. I believe Palm Coast voters would be fair in their assessment of the council’s work product over their terms.
It is wrong, in my view, for the Council to vote their own pay increases.
Mike Yates
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
I remember a few months ago when I went to the meeting and they discussed raising property taxes. One council member made the statement that it would only raise our property taxes about $18 and that the city needed the money.
He also said that the city didn’t have enough money to properly fix all the swales, but then said the city had money in reserve in case of emergency. He then said the city needed to give employees a pay raise.
With all the buildings going up around here, you would think that the taxes coming from the new building and the new owners would give the city more money, but apparently that’s not going to help? They also try to get money to remodel the tennis courts. So now the latest news is they want to give all the council members a pay raise from $9,600 to $40,000. Where’s all this money coming from that they have?
Meanwhile our roads are crowded, some streets have been repaved some streets don’t even have the yellow lines that are required and light poles on Matanzas Woods Parkway are leaning every way but up, our gas prices are through the roof. Property values have gone up, which means we pay more taxes on that.
Is anyone really in charge?
They’re starting to act like the Democrats, tax and spend. If they gave them a pay raise like the elderly here in this town, they would get 3%, 4% or 5% raise. I could live with that, but to go to $40,000, that tells me they’ve had money all along or they haven’t been telling us the truth.
We need to put a freeze on all spending till they get their act together.
Terry Webb
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
It has been noted by our City Council that raising their salary from $9,600 to $44,670 each would help draw more talented people to serve on the council. Council Member Eddie Branquinho stated that the $9,600 council members are currently paid works out to about 30 cents an hour when considering how much time they put in.
We often hear "trust me" from Councilman Branquinho, but how can we when statements like this are made (and not challenged by any other Council member)? Anyone who has basic math skills can figure out that even if they worked the council as a full time job (40 hours per week), that equals 2,080 hours per year, which gives us a rate of $4.615 per hour.
In Mr. Vincent Ligouri's letter to the editor, he noted that the council works about 25 hours per week. Assuming they work that way every week, that gives us 1,300 hours which equates out to $7.384 per hour. As Mr. Ligouri noted, a modest 3%-4% raise would not be out of line, but 365% raise is beyond lunacy.
Brian Rosen
Palm Coast
