Despite Budget Problems, San Diego Assessor and Treasurer Accept Raises. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports:
"Budget problems led to layoffs in San Diego County government last year,
but pay is still rising for two elected officials. Assessor-Recorder-Clerk
David Butler accepted a 4.5 percent raise in his annual salary this month, to
$199,139. Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister received a 3 percent increase,
to an annual salary of $155,480."
Mr. McAllister told the newspaper, "I realize these are difficult
economic times and it's awkward out there, but I really hadn't considered
(waiving the raise)."
Two of the county's elected officials did waive raises – at least for
the time being. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
waived an $11,000 increase and Sheriff William Gore waived a $10,000 increase,
with both saying they reserved the right to begin accepting the salary increase
beginning in July. Both are up for re-election in June.
The pay hikes were part of a series of scheduled increases approved by
the Board of Supervisors in 2007. (Source: San
Diego Union-Tribune, January 11.)
(Cal-Tax recommendation: Elected officials should act as if every year
is an election year, and should remember that they are public servants, and
their top priority should be making the government work efficiently for the
taxpayers. Accepting a pay raise while services are being cut is a sign of
misplaced priorities. Also, times are not "awkward," they are
downright tough, with California's unemployment rate at 12.3 percent even as a
variety of taxes and fees are taking more money out of Californians' family
budgets.)
Cal-TaxReports, January 18, 2010
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