WPB looks to raise salaries

This upcoming week, the West Palm Beach City Commission will vote on whether to raise the salaries of the commissioners and of the mayor.

Why?

Here are a few things you won't read anywhere else...

The current salaries haven't been changed or raised in 12 years. Right now, commissioners make $30,000 per year and the mayor makes $125,000.

The proposal is to increase commission salaries to $35,000 and the mayor's salary to $150,000.

The numbers are based on a recommendation from the city's HR team that looked at comparable cities in Florida.

STRONG MAYOR VS WEAK MAYOR

One of the most important things to remember when comparing salaries is the difference between a strong mayor and a weak mayor. West Palm Beach has a strong mayor form of government. That means the job of the mayor is a full time job. The mayor is the city CEO, responsible for overseeing all the daily operations of the city.

This is different than almost all other South Florida cities. Most cities have a weak mayor government. The job of mayor is only part time, the title of mayor is mostly ceremonial and the real day-to-day operations are run by a city manager. In addition to most cities, Palm Beach County is also set up this way. The title of "mayor" of Palm Beach County is nothing more than an honorary title that was invented just a few years ago by the County Commission. But the day-to-day work is done by the county administrator.

Here is one more important difference between a strong mayor and a weak mayor. A strong mayor must go before the voters and the people must elect them to be mayor. A weak mayor, while elected as a commissioner/council member inherits the title of mayor and the title rotates among the elected officials (usually once per year) without voters having a say in who becomes the next mayor.

SO HOW DOES WEST PALM BEACH COMPARE?

The WPB HR department looked at strong mayor governments across the state to compare. Here are the numbers (rounded off for simplicity)...

WEST PALM BEACH

MAYOR: $125,000 (Proposal to raise to $150,000)

COMMISSION: $30,000 (Proposal to raise to $35,000)

JACKSONVILLE

MAYOR: $180,000

COMMISSION: $44,000

ST. PETE

MAYOR: $173,000

COMMISSION: $42,000

TAMPA

MAYOR: $150,000

COMMISSION: $42,000

HIALEAH

MAYOR: $150,000

COMMISSION: $44,000

APOPKA

MAYOR: $150,000

COMMISSION: $13,000

PLANTATION

MAYOR: $117,000

COMMISSION: $29,000

HIALEAH GARDENS

MAYOR: $115,000

COMMISSION: $26,000

MIAMI

MAYOR: $97,000

COMMISSION: $58,000

If the change is approved, the prorated impact on this years budget will be $44,423, and the annual change will be $82,500 including benefits.