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Taxpayers League criticizes proposed compensation in Bill 12-24 at county public hearing
Summary
At a July 9 public hearing on Bill 12-24, which would change compensation for Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee members, a Taxpayers League witness called the estimated $218,000 six‑year impact and a proposed $500/day payment for trial-board civilian members excessive and urged cost-saving alternatives.
The Montgomery County Council heard one registered speaker at a public hearing July 9 on Bill 12-24, which would revise compensation for members of the Police Accountability Board (PAB) and the Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) and adjust related language.
Gordy Brenney, testifying for the Taxpayers League, said he accepts the proposed compensation for the PAB chair and the designated member who would chair the ACC "assuming the fiscal impact statement analysis is correct," but urged the council to reconsider the proposed compensation for civilian trial board members. Brenney repeated the fiscal impact statement figure cited in testimony: "The fiscal impact statement estimate of $218,000 over 6 years for training and compensation is way out of line with the time served and expectations for good citizenship." He criticized a proposed $500 per day payment for trial board members, noting jury duty pays roughly $30 per day, and warned the level of compensation "could lead to patronage assignments."
Brenney also questioned the proposed size of the trial-board pool (10 members), calling it "far too high based on current experience" and recommended a rotating pool drawn from jury selection or incremental additions as demand requires. He suggested "just-in-time" training to reduce costs for people who ultimately do not serve.
The council noted the public hearing record is open through July 18 for materials related to the bill and that a joint Government Operations and Fiscal Policy and Public Safety committee work session will be scheduled at a future date. No council vote on the bill occurred during the July 9 session.
