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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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DATE:
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February 20, 2006
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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February 28, 2006
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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No
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Supervisor Jerry Hill and Supervisor Richard Gordon
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SUBJECT:
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Setting Compensation For Elected Officials
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt an ordinance adding Section 2.28.045 to Chapter 2.28, Title 2 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code establishing a process for setting the compensation for elected department heads.
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Adopt a resolution amending Resolution 65720 setting the salaries for certain elected officials.
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BACKGROUND:
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Unlike Board members’ salaries, which are limited by § 206(5) of the Charter, the Board has discretion in the setting of elected department heads’ salaries, with the exception that such salaries cannot be reduced during the elected officials’ terms of office. The Board’s practice in setting these salaries has varied over the years. Some years, the salaries of the elected department heads as a group have been tied to the resolution adopting the salary schedule for management employees. Other years, the salaries have been set individually as the result of salary survey studies.
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DISCUSSION:
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Adjustment of Future Salaries
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In order to provide some uniformity and regular process in the future in the establishment of salaries for elected department heads, we recommend adoption of an amendment to the ordinance code. This amendment would establish a mechanism for annual adjustments of the elected department heads’ salaries by requiring the County Manager each November to determine the adjusted salaries based upon the percentage increase granted to non-elected department heads as set forth in the unrepresented management salary resolution. Any equity adjustments or special compensation granted to individual non-elected department heads would not be included in the calculation of the percentage increase. In addition once every four years prior to the close of the candidacy filing period for elected department heads, the Board based on salary surveys would review and establish a base salary for the next succeeding term. This proposed process will give candidates notice of what the base salary would be for the particular office.
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Adjustment of Current Salaries
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Because this new proposed process will not be effective for this filing period, it is further recommended that salaries for elected department heads be adjusted at this time. Salaries for county elected officials and unrepresented management personnel are contained in Resolution 65720 which was adopted by this Board on December 17, 2002. That Resolution provided for a 4% salary increase, effective November 6, 2005, for non-elected department heads.
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Based on salary surveys of comparable Bay Area County Elected Officials and the history of increases in elected officials’ salaries, it is recommended that the county elected officials, other than the District Attorney, receive a salary increase effective on November 6, 2005. The following adjustments are recommended: Assessor-County Clerk- Recorder 5%, Controller 6%, Coroner 6%, Tax Collector; 6% and Sheriff 4%. The District Attorney is not included because he already received a 4% increase effective in November 2005.
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