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Proposed pay formula for mayor and commissioners draws public pushback and commissioner caution
Summary
The Charter Review Committee recommended setting mayor and commissioner pay in the charter tied to a Volusia County benchmark (75% of county council chair for mayor, 75% of mayor for commissioners); residents and some commissioners warned this could lock in procedures and have unintended consequences.
The committee proposed specifying commissioner and mayor compensation in the charter and tying it to a county benchmark: the mayor would receive 75% of the Volusia County Council chair's pay and each commissioner would receive 75% of the mayor's salary. Billings said the committee sought an objective model to remove guesswork and provide clarity.
Public commenters and several commissioners pushed back. Leslie Sachs called the proposed increase "too big" and said the ballot language did not state current levels; others warned tying pay to the county could produce unintended consequences if the county changed its formula. Commissioners debated whether compensation belongs in the charter or in ordinances and noted voters would ultimately decide any charter-embedded pay change. The city attorney said the committee recommended both putting the compensation in the charter and increasing it, which would require resident approval to alter later.
