Escondido
Members of the Escondido City Council have given themselves two pay raises in three weeks, increasing their salary from $360 a month to $900 a month.
On Wednesday night, the council voted 4-1 to pay itself $300 a month for serving as members of the Community Development Commission, which oversees the redevelopment of the downtown area, including the construction of a new civic center.
Councilman Jim Rady was alone in opposing the pay raise, saying it ran counter to his philosophy of volunteerism.
Mayor Ernie Cowan, speaking for the council majority, said the remuneration was justified because of the amount of time the council members spend on city development business, often at the expense of their own jobs and income.
Three weeks earlier, the council increased its base council salary from $360 a month to $600 a month.
In addition, the council members receive $100 a month for serving as members of the city’s water board of directors, and a $100 per month car allowance.
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