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Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009

Benefits for Atwater City Council members outpace similar elected posts in Merced County

ATWATER -- There may be a recession on, but the five best-paid city council members in the county -- Atwater's -- haul home a hefty harvest of benefits.

They each receive at least $1,500 a month -- in some cases higher -- in stipends and salaries. Together, they cost the city more than $100,000 a year.

The members argue that the benefits help them do the city's work better.

This year alone the city's price tag for the council will be more than $136,000, according to the projected 2009-2010 budget and the city clerk.

The cost includes monthly salaries, cell phones and gas stipends, along with in-lieu health insurance payments.

The largest chunk of cash -- $67,516 a year, according to the proposed budget -- goes to the council's in-lieu health insurance payments.

All the council members have their own insurance, according to the city clerk, so the city pays them cash instead of providing insurance. That's in-lieu insurance. The sitting council is made up of three retirees with health insurance -- all of whom worked in the public sector -- and two members who work as teachers and have health insurance as well.

The second-largest chunk of their benefits package is the $700 monthly gas stipend they get. According to the city's proposed 2009-2010 budget, the total cost for that stipend will be $42,600 this year.

The budget also notes this year's cost for five cell phones: $4,500.

Several council members feel the expenses are in line with what they do.

"I feel that it's justified because I put in the time and so do the City Council people," said Mayor Joan Faul. She said the salaries, and especially the health insurance benefits, are meant as incentives. If someone doesn't have health insurance and wants to run for the council, she said, the benefits can make it financially possible. Although the council receives such benefits, she said, they don't work longer hours than, say, Merced.

Councilman Nelson Crabb said while he receives benefits and a salary, working for the city means a net financial loss. "I have had to set a lot of my business aside to go forward with the city business," he said. Crabb said the pay helps council members spend more time on city business.

The council's three other members couldn't be reached for comment.

Compared to the other city councils in the county -- Los Banos being the exception -- Atwater is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to benefits.

Richard Warne, Livingston's city manager, said council members receive $300 monthly salaries and hold an option for a cell phone.

The city of Gustine pays its council members a monthly salary of $85 and has budgeted $7,100 this year for training and conferences.

The city of Merced pays its council members $70 a month total, said the city's spokesman, Mike Conway.

Los Banos, which comes in a close second after Atwater when it comes to council benefits and salaries, pays its council members $300 a month and its mayor $400. Council members also receive a $75 cell phone stipend. They get no car allowance.

Like Atwater, Los Banos provides insurance for its council. For those council members already insured, the city pays a flat $300 stipend, said Steve Rath, Los Banos city manager.

Reporter Jonah Owen Lamb can be reached at (209) 385-2484 or jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.