Supervisors Create Panel to Study Pay Increases

A sharply divided Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to set up a committee to study salary and benefit increases for themselves and elected department heads.

The move marks the first time board members have considered changing their rate of compensation since being criticized several years ago for failing to maintain tight control over their perks.

The issue became politically explosive in 1992, after a survey by The Times showed that 11 top elected officials and then-Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg received more than $300,000 in extra benefits annually.

A Ventura County grand jury later looked into the matter and cited more than 15 compensation benefits and perks that it said were excessive, including thousands of dollars in hidden transportation allowances, vacation and longevity and education benefits.

The board rescinded most of the perks, but raised supervisors’ base salary, which is now $71,897 annually.

On Tuesday, the board voted 3 to 2 in favor of the new committee.

Supervisor John Flynn, who dissented, argued that no study is needed to ascertain that he and his colleagues deserve a higher rate of compensation. Currently, supervisors are paid 65% of the annual salary of a Superior Court judge. Judges earn $110,612 annually. The six-term supervisor suggested raising the supervisor figure to 70%, which would amount to about a $5,000 salary increase this year.