LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Supervisors Molina, Burke Vow to Reject Pay Raises

Two Los Angeles County supervisors say they will reject a 5% pay raise they were automatically granted and will instead use the money to bolster the county’s cash-strapped coffers.

Supervisors Gloria Molina and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said it would be unseemly for an elected county official to accept the raise, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.

Robert Alaniz, Molina’s press aide, said: “The supervisor believes that in this time of cutbacks, deferrals, layoffs and what is looking like more trouble in the future, it is not the time to be accepting raises.”

Burke said she is looking at the best way to give the money back without being penalized or taxed on it.

Under a 1953 charter amendment, supervisors salaries are tied to those of Superior Court judges, who in turn receive the same raises as state employees. The increase will lift supervisors’ salaries from $99,297 to $104,262.

Aides for Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Deane Dana said they also are leaning toward rejecting the increase as long as they are not taxed for it. Supervisor Ed Edelman, who is retiring at the end of his term, said through a spokesman that he is undecided.