Council Vote Set on Pay Hikes

Expecting the state budget deadlock to drag on until fall, the Thousand Oaks City Council is expected tonight to consider raising the pay scales of more than 150 city workers and giving council members a 10% pay hike.

“It’s the right thing at the right time,” Mayor Pro Tem Bob Wilson Sr. said of the proposed salary adjustments for city workers. “They do a good job and they will continue to do a good job whether they got a raise or not. There’s no financial reason not to give them the raises they have coming.”

The council set aside $265,000 in April for the salary adjustments in the nearly $168-million budget approved for fiscal 2003-2004. The city has saved about $1.6 million in salaries after about a year of hiring freezes. There are 25 unfilled positions.

Staff raises were stalled because some council members wanted to wait until a new city manager was selected and the budget stalemate in Sacramento was cleared up.

“I thought it was appropriate, fair and just when it originally came through,” Councilman Dennis Gillette said, adding he will likely vote again for the raises.

Thousand Oaks reviews its staff salary structure every five years to ensure it remains competitive when recruiting new employees. The last such review was in 1998.

Johnson & Associates, a Northern California consulting firm, completed a survey in March of 487 full- and part-time Thousand Oaks workers. The report recommended the city alter salary ranges for about 160 of its approximately 590-person workforce. Two of the city’s four unions -- representing clerical, maintenance and technical employees, or about half the workforce -- already received 4% cost-of-living increases effective July 5.

With no end to the state budget struggle in sight, the council decided to again consider the raises on July 15, the same night Community Development Director Philip Gatch was picked to become the city manager.

“Although we’re not positive where we’re going, financially, these particular employees deserve the raise. I’m satisfied they’re below the current scale, so I’m going to vote in favor of it,” Councilman Ed Masry said.

Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Pena worries that it might be premature to approve staff raises until a final state budget is approved, though she agrees the extra pay is deserved.

However, she said she will vote against higher pay for the council.

“We don’t get paid enough, but it’s just the principle,” Bill-de la Pena said. “I believe it would be wise for the council not to give itself a raise in light of potential budget cuts.”

Council members received their most recent raise, a 5% increase, in late 2002.

If a full 10% increase for 2003 and 2004 is approved, those on the council after the November 2004 election would receive a monthly salary of about $1,443, or about $17,300 annually. The increase would cost the city about $8,600 a year.

“I’m in favor of it because I’d like to see more people run for office and we’re never going to have that unless there’s some reasonable monetary compensation,” Masry said. “I know it’s not a popular thing to do, but in my opinion the council just isn’t paid enough for the job they do.”

Other council compensation includes medical, dental and vision insurance for them and their dependents; $375 a month for meals, mileage and for using their vehicle on city business; $300 toward an annual physical exam; tuition reimbursement; and more than $1,200 contributed annually to a state retirement plan for government employees.