Richmond
City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, Virginia 23219
U.S.A. - www.council.richmondva.gov
COUNCIL PUBLIC
INFORMATION NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Thursday,
30 July 2015
The
Honorable Michelle R. Mosby
Councilwoman,
Richmond City Council, Richmond South Central 9th Voter District
Regarding: A Proposed Ordinance by Councilwoman Mosby introduced Monday, July
27, 2015 to establish a Council Compensation Review Advisory Committee to
conduct an independent review of the compensation structure for Richmond City
Council members.
(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – “Long before I became a member of Richmond City
Council, Richmond residents were asking why, with all the work Councilmembers
do, is the stipend for them so low. People say that an increase is way past
due.
People
have also questioned the low rate as not being fair to those interested in
serving and that an increase would mean that even more individuals would be
interested in running.
In
response to those questions, and rather than arbitrarily asking for the stipend
to be increased, I think that the fiscally responsible and prudent thing to do is
to convene an independent advisory committee to study the issue and to find out
if in fact this is the case.
If the
committee thinks the current rate is fine then there would be no change, if
they think it needs to be increased then that will be considered as well.
The
last time the stipend was increased was about 18 years ago, in 1997. Since that
time Richmond has seen major changes. This has included establishing a brand new
form of government, changing from a Council-Manager to a Council-Mayor Form of
Government, which makes it the only city government like it in Virginia.
Richmond also serves the distinction as being the capital of the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
If an update is needed, it has to go
through a quite lengthy local and state public approval process. For example,
if anything was decided today - it would have public hearings and need Council
approval, then would need to be introduced at the state legislative level, have
additional public hearings and receive state approval.
Through all the process, any changes
wouldn't go into effect for about two years down the road. This would not
affect the current Councilmembers serving the 2013-2016 Richmond City Council Term.
I don't know of many people who would
expect a rate to stay the same for 20 years. For example, since 1990 even the slow-to-increase
federal minimum wage rate has gone up seven times.
The Committee should compare this in
light of the amount of time that Councilmembers spend attending Official
Richmond City Council Meetings as required by law and other work representing
constituents.
To help ensure accuracy, the review
should be comprehensive and should include the annual stipend amount,
reimbursement for expenses, health, retirement, and other benefits.
We should also take a look at what other
jurisdictions of comparable population and governmental structure to Richmond
are doing. This will be a public process and
the committee will hold public hearings in multiple locations around the city
to receive public comment on their findings. Once again, if the committee recommends
no changes, then no changes would be made.
The Committee would submit a written
report to Council by November 2, 2015, which would allow time, if needed, for
any proposed recommendations to be requested for the 2016 Virginia General
Assembly Legislative Session. The changes of which would not go into effect
until the summer of 2017.
The next time an increase would be possible
after that would be around the year 2021."
CONTACT For more information, please contact
The Honorable Michelle R. Mosby, Councilwoman
Richmond
City Council, Richmond South Central 9th Voter District,
-
E N D -
Steve Skinner
Council Public Information Manager
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A.
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
steven.skinner@richmondgov.com (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
____________________________________________________
MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council is to
represent citizens in creating and amending local laws,
providing government
policy and oversight, and
approving the city budget.
VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.
