Halt big bucks salary for mayor
Citizens, it’s no easy task being ready to protest, speak out and otherwise let government know that you oppose its actions. Nationally, it’s been a nonstop roller coaster since Donald Trump took office, with outrage rising and falling like so many dips in a ride that is spinning out of control. Locally, there was blowback over a proposed tax on sugary drinks and anger because of the governor’s ill-conceived cuts to higher education in the state. It’s exhausting.
However, we need a little more outrage, the kind expressed by thoughtful, smart citizens who show up to block a bad move by government. The action begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the O’Keeffe Room at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, when members of the Independent Salary Commission will be gathering to discuss what to pay the mayor of Santa Fe. The public is invited to attend and share their views — which commission members have said they will take into account before making a final recommendation on May 24.
Under a 2014 ordinance approved by voters, the part-time mayor Santa Fe will become a full-time, salaried employee of the city of Santa Fe. The ordinance allowed a floor for the salary — $74,000 a year, but only until a commission set the actual pay. We’d wager, however, that voters never thought a commission would attempt to give away the store. Unfortunately, the well-meaning members of the salary commission became carried away, suggesting a salary range of $145,000 to $175,000. With benefits, that could cost taxpayers anywhere from $200,000 to a quarter of a million dollars. That’s simply too high.
Citizens, show up and be counted. Let the commission know that taxpayers do not want to pay for another big-bucks salary for a city employee. Public input is one factor in setting the permanent salary. Otherwise, the commission is operating under the terms of an ordinance approved by the City Council and the mayor, requiring them to compare salaries of other public bosses within Santa Fe County, as well as salaries of mayors of cities of comparable size, cost of living and diversity within the region.
However, some of the research was flawed, as New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón found. Additionally, several of the cities included in the survey are much larger than Santa Fe, with more complicated operating systems as a result. This is no simple city-to-city comparison, so commissioners can exercise discretion and recommend a modest but fair salary.
One place to start is with a salary of $74,000, the amount many voters thought they had approved. Yes, the city manager and deputy city manager would make more money ($140,000 and $134,000, respectively). So do other top city officials. But setting a lower salary for the mayor could be the beginning of a more sensible salary structure for top city officials. Santa Fe taxpayers are the folks who pay the bills. They are not bringing home three-figure paychecks. The latest U.S. Census figures put per capita income at around $33,000 and household income at just over $54,000 — and that’s without generous pensions and other benefits that city employees earn.
Even current Mayor Javier Gonzales, who supported the concept of a full-time mayor and would benefit from a fat paycheck if re-elected, thinks the salary range is too high. He urged commission members to lower it. If they don’t want to listen to him, make sure enough citizens show up and be counted. Only if citizens speak out — loudly but with logic on their side — can taxpayers prevent a wholesale raiding of the public piggy bank.