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Los Angeles County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
Measure GG
Increase compensation and provide health care benefits to Rent Control Board Members
City of Santa Monica
Charter Amendment - Majority Approval Required

10,785 / 39.47% Yes votes ...... 16,538 / 60.53% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the City Charter be amended to increase Rent Control Board members' compensation from $75.00 to $150.00 per meeting, with a limit of $6,000.00 per year, and to provide that they shall receive health care benefits?

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
The Rent Control Board members? compensation will increase from $75 to $150 per meeting, with a limit of $6,000 per year, and they shall receive health care benefits.

A NO vote of this measure means:
The Rent Control Board members? compensation will remain at $75 per meeting, and they will not receive health care benefits.

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
This measure would amend the provision of the City Charter which establishes compensation for members of the Rent Control Board. The amendment would increase Board member's compensation from $75 to $150 per meeting, add an escalator tied to the consumer price index, and increase the annual maximum on compensation from $4,750 to $6,000. Additionally, the proposed amendment would entitle Rent Control Board members to the same medical, dental and health benefits which are available to City employees classified as ?miscellaneous employees.? Board members? benefits would be paid for by the Rent Control Board from revenue generated from fees.

  
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Arguments For Measure GG Arguments Against Measure GG
When compensation was established in 1979 for the Rent Control Board, no provision was made for inflation. They have not had an increase in over twenty years. A maximum of $6,000 per year is neither extravagant nor excessive.

Rent Control Board members are the only elected officials in the City of Santa Monica who do not receive basic health insurance.

Taxpayers will be protected. Other than adjustments for inflation, the amounts authorized by Measure GG cannot be increased without a vote of the people. The increased costs will be completely absorbed by current and future Rent Control Board budgets. No costs will be paid out of the city's budget and the Rent Board's annual fees will not be affected.

If we want to encourage civic-minded citizens to participate in our government, we must compensate them fairly. Board members spend a great deal of time discharging their duties in addition to their scheduled meetings.

Official ballot arguments in support of Measure GG are signed by:

  • Mildred B. Rosenstein, Senior Advocate
  • Dennis Zane, SMRR Co-Chair, former Mayor of Santa Monica
  • Dolores Press, Former Chair, Santa Monica Rent Control Board
  • Sheila Kuehl, State Senator, 23rd District
  • Richard Bloom, Council Member, City of Santa Monica

The Rent Control amendments proposed and supported by the Board Commissioners benefits them more than it does Santa Monica tenants.

Measure GG doubles the Commissioners? compensation and allows them to receive full medical, dental and other health benefits for meeting for a few hours once a month.

How can the Board provide full medical benefits to at least five additional persons at no cost to anyone? Santa Monica charges $11.00 per unit per month for rent control fees while Los Angeles charges $14.00 per year. Therefore, the claims ?there is no burden on Santa Monica taxpayers? and ?the annual fees will not be affected? may be true (in the short term) because the Board already charges far too much.

Nothing in Measure GG limits the Commissioners to ?basic health insurance.? There is no way to limit future cost increases for medical insurance.

Official ballot arguments in opposition to Measure GG are signed by:

  • James L. Jacobson, Tenant/Property Management Consultant

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Created: December 6, 2002 03:14 PST
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