What is a City Commissioner Worth?

Sarasota's City Commission members will continue to make $24,918 this fiscal year after killing a 2012 referendum asking voters if the commission should have the power to raise their salaries to the maximum possible allowed under state law.

The commission, which unanimously agreed at its Monday session to cancel the vote, has its salary set by a formula created by Florida law. In addition, the city has its own law to make 40 percent of the maximum salary allowed, said Jan Thornburg, City of Sarasota's public information officer. 

The previous commission agreed to put the question on the ballot, Thornburg said, by recommendation of the Charter Review Committee, thinking that they could get more qualified people to run for office. If voters said yes, the commissioners would have to bring up the issue at a meeting and then approve by a 4-0 or 4-1 vote to raise the commissioners' salaries.

The commissioners' salaries actually decreases over time using the current setup. Up until Sept. 30, the commissioners made a little more than $25,000.

It wasn't the first time a raise was floated, then struck down. In 2009, the city could have expanded its commission to seven members and have an elected mayor. At the same time, proposed a $25,418 annual salary for the commission and a $50,837 salary for the mayor. Sixty-eight percent of voters rejected the overhaul.

The salary debate is not likely to be over.