HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10091984 - 2.5 s
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS +
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Contra
Costa
DATE: October 4, 1984 County
SUBJECT: Compensation Level for Board of Supervisors
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that an adequate compensation level be established
for individuals serving as members of the Board of Supervisors by setting
the salary at a rate of $2740 per month. It is recommended that the Board
introduce and waive reading of the ordinance and set October 16 , 1984,
for adoption of the ordinance to fix this salary amount.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
1. The Board of Supervisors makes policy decisions for one of
the largest, most diversified and complex organizations in the county.
They currently serve as the "Executive Body or Board of Directors" of a
$370 million organization which employs over 5, 000 individuals.
2. It is imperative that attention be given to fixing at least
a minimum wage that will not serve as a disincentive in attracting and
retaining qualified individuals to serve as Board members .
3., Contra Costa' s 693,000 population ranks as the tenth largest
(out of 58) in California, but the compensation for members of the Board
ranks 18th in the State. See the attached chart comparing budget and
salary figures for the most populous counties .
4. As a comparison, Board members earn less than County road
equipment operators, legal clerks, maintenance workers and many other
positions that have significantly less responsibility.
5. The public interest is not served by underpaying Board members,
nor by compensating them as though they were part time employees when
they clearly are not. A 1979 citizens ' committee found that members of
the Board work well in excess of forty hours a week and they are
inadequately compensated. Collectively, in addition to their duties
as members of the Board of Supervisors, Board members serve on over twenty
local and regional policy-making boards and commissions .
6. A 1981 blue ribbon committee studied the subject of compensation
for Board members and recommended a fifty percent increase at that time.
However, for various reasons Board members' salaries were not increased
at that time, nor have they kept pace with the general cost-of-living
increases which have been given to County employees in the intervening
years since that study was made.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) � �a �Y
ACTION OF BOARD ON 0c.,tnhPr 90 1C)84 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
The Ordinance amending Section 24-26.006 of the County Ordinance Code to reflect a salary
of $2,740.00 per month for menberz of the Board of Supervisors and other benefits as are
provided other elected county officers and management employees is hereby INTRODUCED, and
October 16, 1984, FIXED as the time for adoption. By unanimous vote of the Board members
vopresent LpeadinthVIS;s the Ordinance was waived.
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: "4_,i_ NOES: 2 AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: -- ABSTAIN: — AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED October 9, 1984 00160
County Counsel Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the
Board of Supervisors , and County
dminist/a�t�or r /
M3e2/7-68 B ��" {'v DEPUTY
Kelly . Calhoun
2.
7. Based on the attached salary survey provided by Personnel, a
$2740 a month salary would be more in line with the compensation levels
paid by other major urban counties in California. At this level it would
rank ninth in the State, just below San Mateo and Sonoma Counties , both
which have a smaller population and budget than Contra Costa County.
BACKGROUND
The problem of inadequate compensation of Board members relative to
their responsibilities has existed for over ten years. During the last
decade, many different committees , commissions and citizens ' groups have
discussed the issue, but no decision was made to increase Board members '
salaries to an adequate level. Even the recent 1981 citizen' s committee
recommendation of a substantial increase was not implemented.
The currently recommended compensation was initially suggested by
the 1981 citizens' committee reviewing Board salaries. Although the
proposed $2740 per month salary does not provide for any cost-of-living
adjustment to the earlier recommendation, it does provide a salary
commensurate with this County' s population and budget ranking in the
State. The recommended annual salary of $32 ,880 . ranks Contra Costa
Supervisors' salary ninth, below that of smaller San Mateo and Sonoma
Counties . This increase is significantly below the 50 percent increase
recommended by the 1981 citizens ' committee.
0 016 1
Board of Supervisors Salary Survey
October 1, 1984
Comparison of salaries paid to members of the Board of Supervisors - Top 20
counties by population.
County Salary
1. Los Angeles $6064
2. San Diego 4430
3. Orange 3801
4. Santa Clara 3599
5. Kern 3547
6. Riverside 3341
7. San Mateo 3091
8. Sonoma 3045
9. Ventura 2605
10. SantA Barbara 2592
11. Alameda 2584
12. Sacramento 2494
13. Tulare 2483
14. San Joaquin 2462
15. Fresno 2184
16. Monterey 2109
17. San Bernardino 2070
18. CONTRA COSTA 2013
19. San Francisco 1994
20. Stanislaus 1550
Average Top Ten $3612
Average Bottom Ten $2194
Overall Average $2903
All data effective October 1, 1984
00162