Simi Valley Council Members Move Toward a Pay Raise

The City Council has taken the first step toward raising council pay and expense allowances.

Council members late Monday approved a preliminary resolution that increases their monthly income 10% from the current $776.16 to $853.78. A final vote is expected at the council’s Feb. 23 meeting and would not take effect until after the November elections.

According to state law, cities can increase the pay of elected officials 5% each year. Council members last voted to increase their pay in July 1996.

Council members also voted to increase the monthly expense allowance for themselves and planning commissioners.

Beginning after the November elections, council members, who are now allotted $265 a month for business-related expenses, will be given $350 a month.

The mayor’s monthly expense budget was increased from $330 to $415.

Planning commissioners also reaped some benefits from the vote and will receive $350 a month for expenses incurred performing city-related tasks. They now receive $265.

The council pay raise comes at a time when the city is in comfortable shape financially.

A midyear budget report delivered Monday night painted an enviable picture of the city’s finances.

General fund revenues at midyear are 18.6% higher than projections made at the beginning of the fiscal year.

“We were very pleased with the city’s financial position,” Mayor Greg Stratton said. “Our belief is that our city is in excellent financial shape and it looks like we’ll have the inertia to continue that into the next year.”

The surplus $2 million came largely from development-related fees paid to the city and a six-month windfall in sales and property taxes.

General fund expenses, projected to be about $16.6 million at midyear, increased by less than 1%, largely from additional personnel costs.

Revenues and expenses in other funds--such as those used for transit, water and community development--remained on par with initial projections.

The council also adopted several staff recommendations to modify the budget over the remaining six months of the fiscal year.

Some of those recommendations include hiring a consultant for $20,800 to recruit a new city attorney, paying $26,150 to install Internet access for city workers and spending $10,000 for computer training.