Archive for the ‘Mark Mustian’ Tag

How Many Aides Do COT Commissioners Have?

During a recent public hearing on the COT budget, a number of citizens criticized Mayor Marks for having four aides. Each time a citizen leveled the charge, Mayor Marks shook his head as to say no that is not the case.

A quick perusal of the budget for the Office of the Mayor indicates there are four budgeted positions. However, that number includes the Mayor. So for 2010 the Mayor has 3 aides. In 2008 he had 3.5 aides.

The expenditures for the Office of the Mayor in 2008 was $689,000, in 2009 the estimated expenditures is $573,000, and the budgeted amount in 2010 is $592,000.

The other four commissioners each have one aide. The 2010 budget for the part-time commissioners’ offices is $161,000, except for City Commissioner seat #1, which is $12,000 less at $149,000. This seat is occupied by Mark Mustian.

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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An Interview with City Commissioner Mark Mustian

Tallahassee Reports sat down with City Commissioner Mark Mustian to get his view on a number of issues.

What do you think are the most pressing issues facing the City of Tallahassee? 

First is what to do with the electric utility. Should we keep it, sell the complete utility, or just the generation? I think we need to move in the direction of selling.

The second issue would be transportation. I think we need to work hard on creating a more robust busing system. This would include more hubs around town so more people would find the system easier to use.

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