In one of my volunteer positions on a board of directors, we have to vote annually on the salaries of the executive team of the organization. I cannot imagine these people voting on their own salary. It would not be right. I trust that they would do the right thing; I’m just not sold on people voting on their own pay. I do agree with Peter Near’s comments but I cannot agree with the policy of establishing one’s own pay. There are better ways to accomplish a fair pay structure for politicians at any level of government.
I also find myself wondering if there is any end to the game of pay parity with other municipalities. This smells of being a self-serving fantasy that does nothing to control salaries, and provides endless justifications for raising them. Yes, everyone deserves a fair pay. No, if wages are slightly better somewhere else, these folks aren’t going to jump ship and go work for another municipality that isn’t hiring anyway.
It’s time for a better system.
For more discussion, visit Mike Cluett’s blog . . .
