On Thursday, Feb. 28, Placer County’s seven-member Charter Review Committee will reconvene to discuss a consultant’s total compensation survey regarding county supervisors in California.
The meeting will take place at the County Administrative Center, 175 Fulweiler Avenue in Auburn, beginning at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.
On January 8, the Charter Review Committee presented its report to the Board of Supervisors, which included a recommendation that voters be given the opportunity to decide whether to remove the salary cap that currently limits each supervisor’s compensation to $30,000 per year for salary and benefits. Supervisors reviewed the report, then asked staff to do additional research and present the new information during the Board meeting on March 11.
During the January meeting, Wayne Nader, Committee Chairman, presented the report, which included the recommendation that the salary cap be replaced with an annual salary (including benefits) based on the computed average of eight comparable counties with an annual cost-of-living adjustment. The current computed average annual salary of the eight counties is approximately $99,000. The committee also recommended adding a statement to the charter that the position of County Supervisor is at least a full time job.
At the Feb. 28th meeting, the Charter Review Committee will follow up on supervisor’s requests, exploring three proposals. Specifically, supervisors asked for a review of what compensation might be if it were based on a comparison to supervisorial salaries in Nevada, El Dorado and Sacramento counties. An average of pay in these three counties determines the salary deputy sheriffs receive in Placer County (Proposition F). Board members also asked for a review of compensation based on a five-county compensation model described by Chairman Nader and an eight-county model the county uses to help set compensation for county personnel.
Placer County’s Charter, which was approved by voters in 1980, is a governing document that provides a level of flexibility in local decision making and contains provisions that guide the organizational structure, duties and responsibilities of elected and appointed officials. Included is a requirement that a Charter Review Committee be convened by the Board of Supervisors every five years to consider recommending changes to the County Charter. The Board of Supervisors is not required to accept or act on any of the recommendations. However, voter approval would be required for the charter to undergo change.
More information about the Charter Review Commission, its work and its January report to the Board is available online at www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/Charter/CRC07_08.aspx.