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Charter panel moves to strip council benefits, recommends salary language instead
Summary
After debate, the committee agreed the charter should not guarantee council health or retirement benefits and recommended replacing 'compensation' language with 'salary' (CPI-adjusted) while removing the opt-out cash payment; benefits to be handled by ordinance.
During its Jan. 26 meeting the Palm Coast Charter Review Committee debated whether council members and the mayor should be eligible for city-provided health or retirement benefits or whether compensation should be limited to salary alone. Several members argued that offering benefits to part-time elected officials had produced public backlash and could discourage ordinary candidates; others said limited benefits might attract younger candidates and urged keeping options by ordinance.
Following extended discussion the committee reached consensus to remove the opt-out cash payment provision (the practice of paying a cash equivalent when a member opts out of the city plan) and to recommend the charter frame compensation as salary only. The consultant advised the group that annual salary increases could be tied to CPI adjustments for city employees, and that any salary increases beyond the CPI should be referred to the voters.
One member urged clarity in wording, recommending the use of the word "salary" rather than broader terms such as "compensation" or "remuneration" to avoid legal ambiguity about included benefits. The committee asked staff to reflect the change in the report sent to City Council and to remove language that allowed an opt-out cash payment in lieu of insurance.
