What we talk about when we talk about Palm Coast City Council salaries

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

In the Nov. 24 City Council meeting, Mayor Jon Netts introduced a new wrinkle into the debate about Palm Coast City Council salaries.

I’ve always felt there isn’t any harm in reviewing the Charter, which sets the salaries; in fact, it’s healthy for a community to examine why we do the things we do.

Many have accused City Councilman Steven Nobile, who has been the sole council member promoting a Charter review, of doing it for political reasons only. But I’ve spoken with Nobile on a few occasions about the subject, and I believe his motives are good. He’s not trying to get a raise for himself (pay adjustments wouldn’t go into effect until after the next election at least), but to enable people who are less financially secure to have an option to run for office. Is this the right move? I don’t know, but it’s good to at least have the discussion.

Currently, council members make $9,600, which essentially makes it a volunteer position; it’s a $9,600 stipend to offset some of the costs of the time required to attend meetings and other community events. Should they make more? Should members be paid for working full time, just as the School Board members and county commissioners are?

To help provide context to the discussion, Councilman Bill McGuire asked Mayor Jon Netts how the city had decided on council member pay when the city incorporated in 1999.

“Arbitrarily,” Netts said. “So much that went into that first City Charter was designed to encourage people to support it, so they picked a low number.”

If there is a good way to determine salaries, “arbitrarily” is certainly not it. And what people would support in 1999 is not a good indication of what people will support in 2015.

Instead, because the City Council voted against forming a review committee composed of citizens, the City Council itself is debating salaries, thanks to Nobile’s leadership. That might be better than nothing, but it’s not enough. How can the council members appear to be impartial about their own salaries?

A committee of residents is the only way to do it. Let’s run our city by reason, after informed debate. We shouldn’t be content to have anything in our Charter be arbitrary.