File Photo
City Administrator Ed Driggers (facing council) proposed a compensation package that would give Greer City Council its first raise in 15 years.
That’s how long city council and the mayor has governed without a raise through a recession, a housing boom, another smaller recession and some of the biggest manufacturing and industrial projects that were only imagined in past years.
City Administrator Ed Driggers opened the door for council members to approve first reading on a raise that will take effect on January 1. “Fifteen years is a long time,” Driggers said.
Only council can approve itself a raise. Four years ago Driggers also proposed council take a raise and it was unanimously rejected. That same year council approved the first of three compensation packages Driggers pitched for city employees – an annual bonus, annual raise and a compensation adjustment in the 2015-2016 budget.
Here’s what Driggers proposed and all but council woman Judy Albert approved on first reading Tuesday night:
|
|
2000 through 2015 |
Beginning Jan. 2, 2016 |
|
City Council |
$6,000 |
$10,000 |
|
Mayor pro tem |
$6,300 |
$10,500 |
|
Mayor |
$9,300 |
$16,000 |
Council members voting yes were Jay Arrowood, Wayne Griffin (mayor pro tem), Kimberly Bookert, Lee Dumas, Wryley Bettis and Albert. Mayor Rick Danner begins his fifth term in 2016.
“Driggers said he did a compensation study from 13 state municipalities on elected officials. “If you look at all those, what we found is our current salaries fell far below that group,” he said. “The study was based on population size, number of employees and budget size.”
Among the municipalities studied were Anderson, Conway, Florence, Lexington, Mt. Pleasant, Simpsonville and West Columbia. “The intent is council is setting compensation for the future,” Driggers said.
Albert wanted no part approving a raise. “I get very angry when council votes themselves a raise,” Albert said. “I certainly don’t recommend a raise. I know when it comes to appointing myself a raise I have a problem with that.”
Bookert disagreed. “Council is called on to do things a lot more than usual.”
Griffin also favored the raise. “If you do this (council) for the money than you should be long gone,” Griffin said. “We serve from the heart. We’ve got a full-time mayor for part-time pay. The mayor has represented Greer well and any raise like this is a way to say thank you for the services you get.”
Bettis, also serving his fifth term beginning in January, like Danner, has not had a raise since taking office. “I don’t think anybody runs for the salary,” Bettis said. “It’s not a job, it’s a calling.
“All of us who have businesses for ourselves, it (council) is a sacrifice. If you don’t have the fire to serve Greer you shouldn’t be here at all,” Bettis said.
The second and final reading is scheduled when council next meets on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.