Leadership starts at the top. Supervisors are earning a whopping $157,000 per year. Time to cut bloated management salaries so we have money for basic services.
Last week I expressed my concerns with County pension costs and rising salaries, especially at the management level. The response has been overwhelming and I am still receiving messages from many of you on this issue. An article is on my website (http://www.joannesanders.com). Please encourage your friends and neighbors to read it. You can also copy it into an e-mail to send along to others!
This week, I joined other candidates at a forum sponsored by the Santa Rosa Democrats. In my closing comments I noted the supervisor's compensation package has climbed to $157,000 a year! I made the commitment to take a 30 percent pay cut when I am elected to office. Many of us in the private sector have taken pay cuts these past few years and it is time to take a serious look at the compensation packages our tax payer money supports.
Leadership starts at the top. My commitment is to be an active voice on the Board of Supervisors in addressing and ending County government's financial crisis. As elected public officials we need to demonstrate that leadership.
Here is a link to the related story which appeared on-line in the Press Democrat: http://www.watchsonomacounty.com/2012/03/county/sanders-challenges-supervisors-to-donate-pay/
Long term, I will work with fellow Supervisors to make permanent changes that will ensure salaries are competitive but also at a level we can afford. By County Ordinance Supervisor's pay is indexed to that of Superior Court judges. While the pay started at a reasonable 55 percent of a judge's pay back in 1986, in 2000, the Board began dramatically increasing the index. In 2008, it reached a hefty 75 percent, putting Supervisor's salaries well over $100,000 a year. The Supervisor's assistant pay scale peaks at $80,000 a year. When you consider the added pension benefits, these salaries are highly questionable when matched with similar ones in the private sector.
I have served on the Sonoma City Council for eight years and we have faced financial challenges with declining revenue. We have prudently reduced our expenses in order to fund basic services the public expects and deserves. There are so many things that need to be done and not enough money to do them. I am often asked, "How would you pay for the much needed road repairs or mental health services?" is to begin by reigning in expenses and inflated compensation packages. If you agree, please join my campaign and help me get elected to represent the First District on the Board of Supervisors. You can get involved by visiting my website and adding your name as an endorser. I appreciate your continued support. Together, we can make County government work for you, its citizens.
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