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Commissioners' salaries are "set by the state". Even
though the state provides a salary formula, based largely on population
growth, charter counties can set their own salaries. Indeed, there is a
trend among Florida charter counties to lower commissioners' salaries.
By the November, 2008 election, commissioners will probably be making
significantly more than the current $62,000/year. Our amendment sets
salaries at $37,000/year, where it will remain until voters change it.
Let local control, not Tallahassee, make decisions about what we pay our
commissioners.
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If commissioners' salaries are lowered, county employee salaries
will also be lowered. Our proposal addresses only
commissioners' salaries.
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Commissioners' salaries were lowered when voters approved the
November, 2006 ballot initiative. Well, kinda. The salaries
were lowered somewhat (30%), but commissioners will still get automatic
pay raises each year, based on the state formula. Some other charter
counties have cut commissioners' salaries by 50 percent. Miami-Dade
pays its commissioners $6000/year. Our amendment will set the salaries
and stop automatic pay raises.
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Commissioners make the correct salaries because they "run the
government". Commissioners are policymakers. They make laws
and policies under which our government is administered. They do not
manage or run the government.
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The position of commissioner is a full-time job. The
job of a commissioner is part-time. The government is run by the county
manager, a full-time employee, and 700 county employees.
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The commissioners should not be "punished" by lowering their
salaries. We are not trying to punish commissioners. We have
long believed that the job of commissioner should not be a career job,
and lowering salaries, as well as instilling term limits, adds
accountability. People should not run for commissioner for the pay.
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Lower commissioner salaries will promote less effective
leadership. Where's the documentation? Did we get
good leadership under high salaries? Salaries should not be so high
that commissioners become reluctant to do the right thing because they
fear losing their high paying jobs. They should not become dependent
upon these salaries.
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Citizens should stay out of the business of running local
government. Some people think that they should not have
anything to do with government, but this is contrary to the tenets of
home rule charter government, which encourages citizen participation.
Citizens, you are paying dearly to support government at all levels.
You are involved whether or not you realize it. You
should become informed and involved.
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Commissioners are making lower salaries as a result of the
charter amendment approved in November, 2006. Commissioners
will not have their salaries lowered until they run for office in 2008.
Because state law says we cannot lower the salaries of commissioners
during their terms of office, Commissioners Conkey and Stewart will not
be affected by the lowered salaries until they run for office again in
2010. The other 5 commissioners, running in 2008, will be affected by
the lowered salaries. This is true for the charter amendment approved
in 2006 and for our proposed amendment.
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Citizens are being "negative" by supporting our amendment.
This is a positive approach designed to give citizens power and control
over their elected leaders. It is an attempt to level the playing field
for people who are paying the bills. Perhaps future commissioners will
be more inclined to listen to citizens when they know citizens decide on
their pay raises. Don't listen to gossip, lies, and innuendo. Citizens
who participate in their government have hope, and that's a positive
thing.