Title
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 2.40 of the Monterey County Code to increase compensation paid to the Assessment Appeals Board from $130.00 plus meal and mileage reimbursement per meeting, to $275.00 plus meal and mileage reimbursement per meeting, and to annually adjust that compensation each July 1 based upon the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 2.40 of the Monterey County Code to increase compensation paid to the Assessment Appeals Board from $130.00 plus meal and mileage reimbursement per meeting, to $275.00 plus meal and mileage reimbursement per meeting, and to annually adjust that compensation each July 1 based upon the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Assessment Appeals Board (AAB) requests the Board of Supervisors increase the compensation of the AAB members and AAB alternates. The County’s AAB consists of three members and two alternatives appointed by the Board of Supervisors. (Monterey County Code Chapter 2.40). The California Constitution provides that the Board of Supervisors “shall fix the compensation of members of the assessment appeals boards.” (Cal. Const. Art. XIII, § 16.) AAB’s compensation is set forth in the Monterey County Code, which currently provides that each member or alternate receive $130 for each day of service, minus normal payroll deductions, plus meal reimbursement and a mileage allowance. (Monterey County Code § 2.40.070.) The AAB recommends an increase in the compensation for two main reasons: first, the daily rate has not increased since 1994, and second, an increase in compensation may assist in recruiting AAB members and alternates.
AAB compensation has gone unchanged since 1994. In 1973, compensation was set at $75 per day of service. (Ordinance No. 1956.) In January 1991, the rate was increased to $130 for each day of service. (Ordinance No. 3510.) In 1994, meal reimbursement and mileage reimbursement were added. (Ordinance No. 03082.) In 2014, the compensation was amended to allow for payroll deductions and to change the mileage reimbursement to a mileage allowance equal in amount to the mileage allowance received by Monterey County elected officials. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Inflation adjuster, $130 in January 1991 was equal to approximately $274 in February 2022.
The AAB recommends that the Board increase the compensation to an amount that is at least equivalent in today’s dollars to the amount set in 1991, $275, effective at the beginning of FY 22-23, July 1, 2023. Additionally, to avoid having to amend the specific dollar amount over time to keep pace with inflation, the AAB requests that the Board include an automatic annual adjustment to AAB compensation each subsequent July 1, based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers as produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Proposed Ordinance was introduced, reading of the Proposed Ordinance was waived, and set for adoption for today, May 10, 2022.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the proposed Ordinance as to form.
FINANCING:
The Clerk of the Board has already budgeted for this increase as part of its FY22-23 budget and will consider this automatic change in its annual budgeting process going forward.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The proposed Ordinance would continue to support the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives by providing competitive compensation for members serving on any board, commission, or committee.
_X_ Administration
____Health & Human Services
____Infrastructure
____Public Safety
____Economic Development
Approved by: Valerie Ralph, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Extension 5842
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Draft Ordinance (redline)
Attachment 2 - Draft Ordinance (clean-signed)