Increase would be the 7th straight for the water board
directors
The two South County representatives on the board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District say they will vote against a proposal to give the board a pay raise.
“No. 1, I don’t do it for the money,” said Rosemary Kamei, who is South County’s elected water district representative. “No. 2, considering that our employees did not take a pay increase, I think we should pause and think about what that means. We’re going through a hard time and as leaders we should do the same thing.”
It’s been a difficult financial year for the district, which was forced to turn over about $25 million in tax revenue to the state and is about to sign a contract that will increase the price of water it imports from the Central Valley Project. CEO Stan Williams said earlier this summer that the district is on course to bankrupt its capital projects budget.
Dozens of vacant staff positions have been cut and employees agreed to forego a cost of living wage increase this year.
But on Oct. 4, the seven-member district board will consider whether to give itself the 5 percent pay increase permitted by the state water code. The board has approved the increase each year since 2000.
Board members do not receive a salary but are paid by the meeting. They are compensated for as many as 10 meetings a month.
Many activities, ranging from board meetings and conferences to mixing with constituents and attending community events qualify as a “meeting.” Board members are paid, for instance, to attend the district annual event at a San Jose Giants game.
In 2000, board members received $168 per meeting. They currently receive $214.41. If the pay raise is approved, they will receive $225.13, 34 percent more than they were paid in 2000. The increase will cost the district an additional $9,000.
Longtime Gilroy politician Sig Sanchez, who is appointed to the water board by the Santa Clara County Supervisors, said he has voted against several previous raises.
“I just feel that the compensation we’ve been receiving is adequate although the work load continues to go up,” Sanchez said. “I think the discussion has to take place and I don’t know what the result will be.”
Last year, the raise was approved in a 4-3 vote; both Kamei and Sanchez voted no.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 9:40am, at the water district headquarters, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose.
Kamei and Sanchez can be reached at rk****@va*********.org, and ss******@va*********.org, respectively.
Compensation for SCVWD board of directors
Amount is per meeting
2006 – $225.13*
2005 – $214.41
2004 – $204.20
2003 – $194.48
2002 – $185.22
2001 – $176.40
2000 – $168.00
- proposed
Source: Santa Clara Valley Water District
