Melanie Bates: Council Salaries and Benefits

Council candidates have been speaking out for and against the level of pay for city council members, but there hasn't been mention of cutting the benefits associated with their employment. Benefits such as health care, pension, and council office staffing far outweigh the measly $25-30K in salary cuts that are being proposed.

I am not sure what level of health care premiums are paid by council members, but at the Board of Education prior to the union contracts ratified this year, the School Board was paying approximately 96% of the health care premiums for our employees. Even with recent concessions to the collective bargaining agreements, the premiums paid by employees are well below the level that workers pay in the business and nonprofit sectors. As a matter of fact, Rick Williams, the School Board incumbent running for reelection, is taking political hits from the unions for supporting the realignment of health care benefits that begin to more accurately reflect the current responsibility most voters, parents, and other residents of the city are assuming in health care contributions.

The public deserves to know the full package of salaries, benefits, and perks council members receive and how council will favor cuts in all of those areas.