Charter committee votes to include commission pay language, ties increases to Volusia County benchmark

The Charter Review Advisory Committee voted to include commission compensation language in the city charter and directed staff to structure the formula as a function of Volusia County pay, with an escalator to 75%.

Committee member Judy Reichert warned against overly specific charter language that would "tie the commission's hands," arguing salary detail is usually set by ordinance and citing neighboring cities’ varied approaches. Others said placing limits in the charter would allow voters to decide the matter directly. After a motion to reconsider the prior compensation decision passed, the committee approved language to include compensation in the charter and later endorsed linking that language to county benchmarks with details to be finalized by the committee.

"I was concerned that by putting such a specific verbiage in our charter that it would tie the commission's hands," Reichert said during debate, urging caution about permanent limitations. The chair summarized the action as inclusion in the charter and an escalator mechanism tied to county figures.

Next steps: the committee asked members to return with proposed specific percentages and clarifying language at the next meeting so the final ballot wording can be prepared.