Six-Bill Package Released to Target Excessive Pay
In response to the pay scandal in Bell, state lawmakers released a package of six bills today to address calls for greater transparency and accountability regarding the salaries of public officials. While Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg stressed their strong support for the reform measures, the governor has yet to issue an opinion on the proposed bills. Assemblymembers Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate), Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills), Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) and Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) were present at the announcement of the package.
Perez stated, “The outrageous salaries paid to Bell city officials, including the city manager and city council members is insulting to the hardworking people of Bell, and all Californians. The reform package we are advancing today will prevent future Bells, and help ensure the tax dollars paid by the people of California are spent properly.”
So what is being proposed in the six bills that comprise the package? The details are as follows:
- AB 1955: Requires the Attorney General to determine whether a charter city is an excess compensation city (any one over the existing law compensation levels for general law cities).[…] The bill also requires that a city council person pay 50% personal income tax on any compensation received in excess of the existing law thresholds for general law city, if the charter city is found to be an excess compensation city.”
- AB 827: Automatic salary increases would be prohibited and the compensation of unelected local government officials in particular would be targeted. Severance payments of greater than 12 months’ salary for such non-unionized employees would also be banned.
- AB 2064: The Legislature will be required to post on its Web site the salaries of its elected members and employees.
- AB 192: Would require a city, which seeks to lure a municipal employee from another city by offering an exorbitant raise, to pay for the higher pension payments that come with the raise.
- SB 501: Local government officials will be required to file an annual statement that discloses their compensation to the public.
- AB 194: After Jan. 1, 2011, the maximum salary or compensation that can be used to determine pension benefits for high-paid public employees will be capped.
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