San Diego
With no debate, San Diego City Council members on Monday unanimously approved a recommendation that their salaries be frozen for 2 years.
The recommendation was made by the city’s Salary Setting Commission, which determined after several public hearings that the mayor and council salaries are high enough to attract competent people to run for public office.
Currently, the mayor’s salary is $60,000, but Mayor Maureen O’Connor collects only $50,000. Council members receive $45,000, with the exception of Abbe Wolfsheimer, who collects only $40,000. Both Wolfsheimer and O’Connor are independently wealthy and are collecting less than their approved pay because of campaign promises.
In addition to their salaries, council members receive annual benefits that compute to $18,408, while the mayor is eligible to collect annual benefits worth $21,422. Those figures include a $5,124 yearly car allowance, but do not count the value of free tickets each receives to sporting events at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
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