THOUSAND OAKS : Council to Consider Raising Its Pay 10%

Just three weeks before the election, Thousand Oaks City Council members are scheduled to consider a controversial proposal to grant themselves a 10% pay raise.

The proposed increase to be considered Tuesday night would raise council members’ monthly salaries from $765 to $844.

City Finance Director Robert Biery said the increases were appropriate, because the council is entitled to receive a 5% increase each year, and members have not increased their pay since 1990.

Council members also receive a $150 car allowance each month, he said.

Some of the candidates vying for two council members’ seats said the proposed pay increases come at a bad time. At least two candidates say they plan to publicly oppose the increase when it comes up Tuesday.

“I’m absolutely opposed to it,” council candidate Ken Bauer said. “In these economic times, when we’re asking everyone to tighten their budgets and their belts, and when people are out of work, this is absolutely inappropriate.”

Council candidate Ellyn H. Wilkins said she hopes the proposed pay increases are “a joke. . . . This should be a public service.”