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Consider directing County Counsel to prepare an ordinance amending Solano County Code section 2-05, subdivision (a), relating to the Board of Supervisors’ salaries and benefits (Supervisor Thomson)
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __x__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _ ___ No __x__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors direct County Counsel to prepare an ordinance amending Solano County Code section 2-05, subdivision (a), to reduce the annual compensation of the Board of Supervisors from fifty-three percent (53%) of the annual salary paid to Superior Court Judges as prescribed by the legislature to forty-eight percent (48%).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Solano County Board of Supervisors’ salaries are tied to salaries of Superior Court Judges. In 1997, the Solano County Board of Supervisors enacted an ordinance that specified that Supervisors will receive a sum equal to forty-six (46%) of Superior Court Judges’ salaries. In 2001, the Board voted to increase this percentage to 53% resulting in a salary of $94,758.17 for each Board member. Since July 2007, there has been no change to Supervisor salaries.
While Board of Supervisors’ salaries have remained unchanged, the County of Solano has experienced tremendous financial hardships. From 2006 to 2012, 3225 local government employees lost their jobs and in 2013, 1500 Travis Air Force Base employees were furloughed resulting in a 20% cut to their pay.
When adjusted for inflation, assessed property values in Solano County also diminished from a high of $51.2 billion in 2007 to $38.1 billion in 2012 constituting a loss of $13.1 billion in total assessed property tax losses and revenue losses of over $20 million for the County. These revenue losses have resulted in a persistent County structural deficit which continues to draw funds from the County’s general fund.
It is recommended that during this time of serious financial hardship, annual...
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