Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) Alderman Daryl Carlson put forth two measures before the Sheboygan Common Council Committee of the Whole Monday night, which he said he never really expected to pass. He was right.
Council members overwhelmingly rejected a motion to reduce their salaries from $4,600 to $4,000. Carlson essentially told his colleagues that they are being overpaid for the amount of work they do. “If you look at other city municipalities, there are some that pay more than us and some that pay less than us. However, I think that we just really put it to the taxpayers in terms of the wheel tax just recently, and the garbage tax before that. I think that it’s a good show of faith to our taxpayers to reduce our salaries by $600. I don’t think that it’s too much to ask,” Carlson says.
That drew a resounding response.
One-by-one alderpersons erupted to inform the Committee Chair why their work for the council is worth every penny currently being earned. District 8 Alderman Jim Bohren was first. “First of all, I don’t think that I’m overpaid for the amount of time that I put into this job. I do put a lot of time into this job.” Bohren went on to make the point that council members pay the same taxes as other residents
Alderperson Mary Lynne Donahue followed, “Both the administrative and the legislative part of city government I think have done a splendid job over the last 10 years under extremely trying circumstances. I personally am not going to take $600 as my penance for having kept the tax levy essentially the same over a decade, for having reduced our city debt, for having reduced our Department of Public Works from 120 to 80 people, for having kept the library levy flat for the last three years. I just don’t have an apology for that.”
Job Houseye suggested that those in favor of the measure were merely grandstanding. While Alderman Joseph Heidermann quite bluntly told Carlson that if he felt so strongly about showing the gesture, he should give up his own entire salary to serve on the council.
Essentially, the outcry from most council members was similar, with the exceptions of District 5 Alderman Billy Thiel who offered that he would have no problem with a pay reduction if; a) It would benefit the city, and b) the city specifies how the funds would be allocated - to the penny.
Alderman John Bellanger not only supported the pay cuts, but also added an amendment to raise the pay for the Council President, Don Hammond. Council members said no to that too.
A proposal to shrink the size of the council from sixteen to ten members is on a fast track to the floor in time, they hope for spring elections. As the committee discussed that proposal, many noted that it will mean more work for the same pay, and more committee assignments. Voters will ultimately decide on this measure and if it passes, it will go into effect in 2018.
The council also rejected a proposal that would have eliminated the Ciy Administrator position once Jim Amodeo retires in 2016.