19078 / 53.66% Yes votes ...... 16476 / 46.34% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Measure A proposes to amend Charter Section 502 to provide that the Mayor's annual salary be set at one hundred percent (100%) of the annual Area Median Income and to provide that the annual salary of each member of the City Council be set at eighty percent (80%) of the annual Area Median Income. Measure A would provide that the term "Area Median Income" shall be as calculated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). The Area Median Income would be that used by HUD for a one-person household in Santa Barbara County.

Using the current HUD Area Median Income figures for Santa Barbara County, this amendment, if approved, would result in a monthly salary for the Mayor in the amount of Three Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Five Dollars ($3775) per month and for each member of the City Council in the amount of Three Thousand Twenty Dollars ($3020) per month. Measure A also provides that these salary amounts would be adjusted annually based on changes in the local Area Median Income. If Measure A is approved, the increased Mayor and City Council member salaries would begin on July 1, 2005.

Service on the Santa Barbara City Council has become a larger and more complicated job over the years. However, Councilmember salaries have not risen for nearly two decades, making it economically impossible for many of our most qualified residents to consider serving.

Measure A solves this problem by linking City Council salaries to the median income for our community. If the community's median income goes down, the City Council salaries will go down. If it goes up, the salaries will go up. It's only fair.

Measure A is supported by an unprecedented and diverse collection of business, neighborhood, environmental and labor organizations. Dozens of community groups -- from the Chamber of Commerce to the Environmental Defense Center to the League of Women Voters to the Downtown Organization -- believe that the City Council should be paid a reasonable salary.

We entrust our elected City leaders with the future of our beautiful community. Voting YES for Measure A will make service on the City Council an option for people of all economic means, and it will help ensure that our beloved city continues to be represented by the best and most qualified members of our community.

Our leaders are responsible for the health, safety and future of Santa Barbara. Let's be sure that they are fairly and adequately compensated for their service.

VOTE YES ON MEASURE A!!!
s/ Catherine McCammon, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara
s/ Linda Krop, Chief Counsel, Environmental Defense Center
s/ Marshall Rose, Executive Director, Santa Barbara Downtown Organization
s/ Alex Rodriguez, Chairman, Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
s/ Steve Cushman, Executive Director, Santa Barbara Regional Chamber of Commerce

Members of the Santa Barbara City Council and the mayor placed this proposed charter amendment on the ballot after less discussion than any charter amendment in recent history. Existing members of the Santa Barbara City Council and the mayor stand personally to gain a combined total of more than $1 million, if this measure passes and they each serve out their existing term and (if feasible) a second term. In addition to their salaries, members of the City Council and mayor now receive generous benefits, including a top of the line health/dental plan, retirement program, monthly car allowance, meeting and travel budget, meeting stipend for serving as members of the Redevelopment Agency, and Medicare. These additional benefits (some of which would rise proportionately with a higher salary) add up to another $1,500 to $2,000 each month, or more, for each member of the City Council and the mayor, in addition to their salaries.

During the past year, the City of Santa Barbara cut vital services, considered closing libraries on weekends, and raised many recreational and other fees. Now is not the time to create a professional politician class in Santa Barbara, micromanaging the city administration. This proposal would result in the Santa Barbara City Council being among the highest paid in California.

Vote No on this measure to TRIPLE the mayor's salary, and to QUADRUPLE the City Council's salary.

s/ Jan Evans, President, Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
s/ Joe Armendariz, Executive Director, Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
s/ Bob Kallman, President Emeritus, Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
s/ Lanny Ebenstein, Board of Directors, Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association
s/ Tobe Plough, Board of Directors, Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association