The Virginian-Pilot
©
Virginia Beach
Councilman Bill DeSteph wants the City Council to take a pay cut, and his plan is gaining support from some of his colleagues.
DeSteph proposed a 25 percent cut earlier this week when the City Council discussed ways to make up a $48 million shortfall in next year's budget.
"We expect our taxpayers to tighten their belts," DeSteph said.
The Beach council is the highest-paid in South Hampton Roads. Each member receives $28,000 annually, and the mayor makes an additional $2,000. By comparison, Norfolk City Council members make $25,000, and the Norfolk mayor gets $27,000.
Cutting the Beach council's salary by a quarter would save $77,500 - a fraction of the budget shortfall - but it would be symbolic, Mayor Will Sessoms said.
"There is no impact on the budget," Sessoms said. "It's showing that the council is trying to do the right thing."
For each council member, it would mean a cut of about $7,000, DeSteph said.
"It's not that much anyway," he said.
That depends on how much you make on your full-time job, some council members said. After all, they say, they pay for city-related phone bills and other local travel expenses. The money also offsets other income they lose because they have to attend council meetings, civic functions and business openings, several said.
"It's not like we're phoning it in," said Councilman Ron Villanueva. "Every week, my calendar is full. Everybody on that council works for that money."
Councilman Bob Dyer said that if the City Council cuts employee salaries, reducing the council's pay should be an option.
The Portsmouth City Council gave up one paycheck - $830 each for council members and more than $900 for the mayor - this week after putting its workers on furlough.
The Beach council also is looking for options, aside from employee pay cuts, to make up the shortfall, Dyer said. He acknowledged that many people are feeling the pinch of the economy.
Dyer said his employer, Regent University, has stopped contributing into his retirement plan and he has taken a second job.
"I'm a victim of the economy, too," he said.
Vice Mayor Louis Jones said he would support a pay cut if the rest of City Council backs it. But reducing the council's salary could dissuade people from serving their community, he said.
"I just don't think it should be a job for the wealthy," Jones said. "My guess is that the public recognizes that there is a certain cost to having council members fulfill their obligations."
Pilot writers Harry Minium, Jen McCaffery and Mike Saewitz contributed to this report.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Pay cut
It isn't necessary... Symbolic but totally a waste of effort.
that $7000
would be a LOT of money for a 911 operator who makes about the same as the average calltaker in a customer service center for MUCH more than what they do. The city decided 911 employees won't be getting raises for at least the next 2 years due to budget issues.
Councilman Bill DeSteph and Sessoms should resign.
Councilman Bill DeSteph and Sessoms should resign. That way they would not be a burden on the City of Virginia Beach.
Huh?
So a very wealthy councilman pulls a political stunt and suggests that he and his fellow councilmen take a pay cut. It won't hurt him at all, so he has nothing to lose.
Why not focus on real budget cuts rather than gimmicks?
The arrogance in his statement that $7000.00 isn't much money should not be forgotten by those of us that consider that a lot of money.
So the city council can cut
So the city council can cut everyone else's salaries and jobs... but not their own? I agree with the major. Cut your salaries. You're asking your citizens to tighten their belts. Now show them.
symbolism over substance
These token pay cuts are meaningless in the face of millions in reckless spending.
Once built, at a cost sure to be in the hundreds of millions, light rail will lose more each and every week it operates than all these pay cuts combined will put back.
If the council wants to show the people it understands the reality of the times we live in, it will cease its efforts to remodel the city to suit developers' purposes and simply provide the necessary services the citizens are taxed to pay for.
MAYOR SESSOMS
needs to see how the other 85% of his citizens live. Cutting council pay by $7,000 per person is $77,000. It may not have a huge impact on the city budget, but it might save a job or two. That, believe it or not, is a positive impact.
I wonder what $20 million for light rail would do for the budget?
Cut it!
Not only do they make good money for a part time job but they get retirement paid too and other benefits on the cities wallet, Norfolk does! The power hungry mod should take no pay for the year or until we the city and its citizens get back on their feet. Pathetic that they cant come to this conclusion on their own, they waste enough of tax payers money as it is! Go light rail, now there's a boonedoggle!
Dissuade from serving their community?
"Vice Mayor Louis Jones said he would support a pay cut if the rest of City Council backs it. But reducing the council's salary could dissuade people from serving their community, he said."
Wrong attitude, bub. I know military members who make less and do more.
ABOUT TIME!
If it's a part time position, then cut it! Everyone else has full time jobs to support their families and have to agree to cutbacks. Only makes sense that they do the same. Especially when city council position is limited hrs of service. Thanks for the gesture!