Archive for July, 2009

Commissioner Mustian Weighs In On Compensation Issue

The research into the deferred compensation issue continues to reveal new information. Today, Commissioner Mark Mustian, the only Commissioner that voted against the measure, stated the following:

I saw the deferred compensation as an increase in salary and my view was that is was something that needed to be addressed in the City Charter.

Further research has determined that the key question to be answered is who gave the go-ahead for the the deferred compensation for the elected officials to be employer paid?

The question has been submitted to the City in the form of a data request.

Did City Commissioners Violate City Charter With Compensation Vote?

The investigation and research into the April 13, 2005 vote by the City Commission, which resulted in an approximate increase of  $22,000 in City Commissioner compensation, continues to reveal new details and raise troubling questions.

Tallahassee Reports has learned that the elected City Commissioners are the only city employees who receive employer paid deferred compensation. The benefit afforded other appointed officials is consistent with the traditional understanding of deferred compensation. Depending on their age, the appointed officials are allowed to reap the tax benefits of deferring up to $21,999 of their own salary.

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Data Request Provides More Info on City Benefits

A data request submitted by Tallahassee Reports, and quick turn-around from city officials, have led to detailed information on how the City Commissioners obtained an employer paid deferred compensation benefit on the order of $20,000 a year.

This is what we know:

  1. The benefit was passed on April 13, 2005 by a 4-1 one vote.
  2. Those who voted for the benefit were Marks, Gillum, Katz, and Lightsey. Mustian voted against the measure.
  3. The language included in the item produced by city officials states the option was described as “approve extension of the deferred compensation benefit currently provided to city manager and city attorney to all elected and appointed officials.”
  4. The vote made the action retroactive to September 2004.

Based on this information, Tallahassee Reports has submitted another data request seeking further clarification.

City Commissioner Benefits Are More Than You Think!

A tip from a frequent reader of this site, followed by a public data request, has revealed interesting information about the benefits that Tallahassee City Commissioners receive for their public service.

The salary of City Commissioners has been discussed in public for many years. Since the installation of the full-time Mayor position, the salary of the four part-time Commissioners was set at $36,000 per year and the Mayor receives $72,000 per year.

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City Spending Increases Isolated to Three Areas

In our last report, Tallahassee Reports analyzed the expenditure trend of the City of Tallahassee’s $133,000,000 general fund over the period of 2005 to 2008.

The analysis indicated that expenditures over that period exceeded population growth to the tune of approximately $23 million. When adjusted for a inflation over that period, expenditures added approximately $12 million.

This report investigated what categories received the expenditures above and beyond population and inflation growth. The analysis indicated that three areas account for this increase in expenditures.

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