- April 24, 2024
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Dear Editor:
One of the basic provisions in creating the city of Palm Coast was the premise that the mayor and City Council would ideally be comprised of semi-retired and retired individuals or employed individuals whose employment status allowed them time for civic positions. Since incorporation, the city of Palm Coast has successfully functioned utilizing the scenario cited above.
The salary proposal by Mayor David Alfin and council members cites, among other things, the amount of time necessary to do the job. My question to all members of the council is: Did you know this when you decided to run for elected office? You had 20 years of council documentation to reference. Apparently you did not do your due diligence.
Mayor Alfin compared current council salaries to those of county commissioners and School Board members. He asks, “How much are our City Council members worth to us?” This is not a question of worth; it is a question of candidate qualifications and civic involvement.
The citizens will determine, by vote, the fate of candidates.
Let’s examine current salaries of Palm Coast’s sister cities:
Deltona: Mayor $15,000 annually, Council $11,100;
Ormond Beach: Mayor $18,751 annually, Council $14,494.
Apparently, Deltona and Ormond Beach are not having difficulties in attracting excellent candidates. Candidates for public office should be committed to the demands of the position.
If Mayor Alfin and council members find the constraints of their positions too demanding, you have the option to resign and clear the field for candidates who truly are civic minded and capable of performing the required tasks at current salary levels.
I am not against modest cost of living increases. The current national average is running 3%-4%. According to the National League of Cities, council members typically receive modest compensation because they serve on a part-time basis. The average number of hours spent per week on council matters in medium size cities(70,000-200,000 population) is 25 hours and only 7% of council members in this category receive $20,000 or more in salary.
In my opinion, the salary increase proposal is grossly out of range and unjustified. I urge all Palm Coast citizens to reject the current salary increase proposal.
Vincent A. Liguori
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: Liguori is a former member of the Home Rule Executive Committee, which helped form the city of Palm Coast.)
Dear Editor:
And now the City Council wants a raise. Sure, after their major Waste Pro debacle, why not reward them? Super idea. If the salary isn't enough, then how about staying out of the race? Just a thought. But politicians always get richer, don't they?
There are some people struggling in this city, in case you weren't aware. I myself am a senior on disability with a total income of approximately $800 a month. Ten dollars a week ($480 a year or so) for garbage pickup was more than enough to pay. I put garbage out maybe once every three trash pickup days. At this new doubled rate, I'll have to cancel my cable TV to make ends meet. Thanks for that, City Council.
Did any of you even consider the possibility of dropping garbage collection down to one day per week to keep our bills the same? The snowbirds don't even use the services year round.
Now these incompetents want more money? How about you immediately fire the members who dropped the ball on this whole situation and donate their salaries to Waste Pro on behalf of low-income seniors who are already struggling? Now there's a splendid idea!
One more thing. I've lived here almost 20 years. With all the road construction, no one even thought to put road reflectors on the intersections of islands to see where you're turning? I'm talking about places like turning left from Old Kings Road into the Shell station and KFC that have no real marked edge to them. These have always been hard to navigate, much less when it's raining. Perhaps reflective paint? Something? Anything?
Or would that perhaps cost us more money so I'd have to cancel lunch or dinner every day? As if inflation and gas prices aren't enough, pay raises for people already making great money is simply laughable. But I'm sure it will happen.
Kathleen Shabi
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
This is so sad. The City Council wants a raise. Why? Did they do great job? No.
Nobody told you people to run for council. If you don't want the job, leave! There are plenty of folks who will run. These politicians constantly argue over petty crap. These are the same people who raise our taxes every year, while allowing homes to be built everywhere and traffic problems to become monumental.
Our mayor seems to think we will get more talent if we raise the council pay. Poppycock.
He is right in his assessment about talent: Rich folks don’t want to be a council members; they're too busy enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Dennis C. Rathsam
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
Mayor David Alfin proposed increasing City Council’s government salaries from $9,600 to $44,670 for council members and $46,470 for the mayor during the March 1 Palm Coast City Council meeting.
The council appears to be in unison with the mayor, exempting one dissenting vote.
The justification for raises is to attract a wider range of candidates to run for citywide office. But will this move widen the talent pool? I think it unlikely. Despite citing the salaries of other similar sized communities and that of other officeholders in Flagler County, the mayor and council cited zero evidence that potential raises would indeed bring more “desirable” office holders.
Is the community a wise steward of finite resources if they manage to find extra funding for the council that could be urgently used elsewhere? Is this a wise use of public funds during a time of economic distress, inflation and record-high fuel prices? How will the proposed raises be funded? The taxpayer will always be on the hook for new spending.
If serving in an elected position in our fair city is about public service or giving back to one’s community, any stipend amount, salary, or other city perk should not be a consideration for political candidates — whether they consider their role part time or not.
Casey C. Cheap
Palm Coast
