Pay increase for council would reflect reality, benefit city

Discussions to increase City Council salaries have exposed a bigger issue that pains the greater population of San Antonio. There is a stark disparity between the area median income and the cost of living that continues to deepen the community’s poverty level.

San Antonio is the seventhlargest city in the United States, but it is also home to some of the poorest neighborhoods. Recently, city staff presented council with the latest status of poverty report, which spotlighted the gaping need to aid those living at or below the poverty line.

Through data collected and compared across multiple sources, it’s clear that advocacy for workforce opportunities that bring higher paying jobs is critical to mitigating the poverty crisis.

If we continue to ask that local leadership bring higher-paying jobs to San Antonio, it should mean seeking avenues for higher wages for everyone, including the mayor and council.

It’s important to understand that increasing the salaries for our local elected officials also increases the incentive to bring in the right people to run and represent us.

As a former council aide in District 1, I have a unique outlook into the demand expected from our elected officials. We want their attention focused on making our needs a priority, which means this role shouldn’t be treated like a part-time job and elected officials shouldn’t feel they need two jobs to make ends meet.

Aside from weekly meetings, City Council members are also required to attend committee meetings, neighborhood meetings, stakeholder meetings, work with staff to develop Council Consideration Requests, host community events, bring bootson-the-ground assistance to constituents and oversee the progress of ongoing work in their districts.

This role is not a 9-5, Monday-through-friday job. The salary should reflect this reality.

On average, a council member will work 50 to 60 hours per week. When broken down into an hourly rate, council members are making approximately $14.65 to $17.59 an hour before taxes. In comparison, in September, City Council approved a wage increase for entry-level positions to $17.50 an hour.

City Council is the executive body for our community, and we should support paying it as such.

Doing business as usual should not continue.