The City Council will soon enact an ordinance that increases councilor salaries 73 percent and the mayor’s salary 49 percent for those elected in the 2017, $10,400 and $13,400 respectively versus the current $6,000 and $9,000.
Based on the council’s own data, their compensation will be greater than other Colorado towns larger than Durango with the exception of Golden. The average salary for city councilors among the Colorado towns cited was $7,890. Their rationale, not based on any data presented in the staff report, was: 1) Councilor’s compensation hadn’t changed since 2005; 2) Higher compensation would encourage hourly workers to run for the council and 3) The Durango City Council is special, different from other towns, a more complex operation. How is Durango more complex than Boulder, Fort Collins or Englewood? Again, no data, no analysis, just their anecdotal point of view that conveniently justified their decision.
I am not against raising councilor’s compensation. Compared to other towns, their compensation is low, but to pay themselves $2,560 more than the average? In business, raises are quantitatively justified with comparative data. Increased spending is scrutinized. I guess when you’re dealing with tax dollars, rational justifications based on sound data analysis are not necessary.
One councilor said that a few thousand wouldn’t make much of a difference. Maybe not to that person!
This council has honed the skill of raising fees and spending money with often little concern for long-term consequences and the historically inevitable economic downturn. I suspect a sales tax or property tax increase will be suggested soon to pay for the airport and building master plan.
Sadly, the council doesn’t focus on ways of making Durango more affordable to those struggling to live here, such as a food tax rebate or help with housing. Finally, I hope that the council will be equally generous to city employees who had to forgo compensation increases during the recession and cost of living increases thereafter.
My wish is the next council, elected in 2017, will be better stewards of our tax dollars and make Durango more affordable.
Michael Todt
Durango
