In fact, it was said (I don¹t know if it is true) that wherever a quorum showed up for an event in Lynwood, it was deemed a meeting for purposes of paying them a per diem. That means they were paid for every wedding, bar mitzvah, and ribbon cutting any three of them attended.
Weighing Their Worth
As a result of articles, letters to the editors and other discussions about the abuse of benefits to elected officials, the Charter Review Committee appointed last year to revise Culver City¹s Charter considered the issue. It was suggested that City Council members be required to annually disclose how much income they derive from their office, including salary, benefits, honoraria and other activities.
We agreed that such disclosure was a good idea, something the public should know. Many on the committee wanted this provision. They thought it would make the Council members more accountable and less likely to give themselves hefty salary increases or benefits.
I supported the provision, which is in the proposed new charter on the April ballot. I thought the people of Culver City should know how poorly paid their City Council members are. As former Mayor Richard Alexander used to say, "No one ever got rich doing this job."
When I was on the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency, Culver City was paying Council members a total of about $500 per month. That was gross pay, before withholding and healthcare deductions. Given that it was fairly easy to put twenty hours a week into the job, the hourly pay was about what employees at McDonald¹s made.
We agreed that such disclosure was a good idea, something the public should know. Many on the committee wanted this provision. They thought it would make the Council members more accountable and less likely to give themselves hefty salary increases or benefits.
I supported the provision, which is in the proposed new charter on the April ballot. I thought the people of Culver City should know how poorly paid their City Council members are. As former Mayor Richard Alexander used to say, "No one ever got rich doing this job."
When I was on the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency, Culver City was paying Council members a total of about $500 per month. That was gross pay, before withholding and healthcare deductions. Given that it was fairly easy to put twenty hours a week into the job, the hourly pay was about what employees at McDonald¹s made.
For those who had our own businesses like me, Albert Vera, Mike Balkman and others, it meant taking time away from the job, actually losing income. None of the people I have observed running for City Council over the last twenty-five years have done so to get rich.
Although we often disagreed with one another, I believe we always thought that each City Council member was doing what he or she believed was best for the community, no matter how misguided we personally thought the rest were.
Even though no one has yet run for the City Council to become rich, it¹s still a good idea to let people know what monetary benefits Council members are receiving from the job, whether to demonstrate they are making too much or too little.
Although we often disagreed with one another, I believe we always thought that each City Council member was doing what he or she believed was best for the community, no matter how misguided we personally thought the rest were.
Even though no one has yet run for the City Council to become rich, it¹s still a good idea to let people know what monetary benefits Council members are receiving from the job, whether to demonstrate they are making too much or too little.
It might turn out something like the commercial:
Annual City Council salary: $6,000.
Discounted premium under city health plans: $6,000 (savings).
Getting someone intelligent and caring to do the job: Priceless.
Mr. Gourley served two terms on the City Council, from 1988 until 1996.
