San Jose
– The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Board of Directors
will vote today on whether its seven members should receive a 5
percent pay raise.
The board, which includes Rosemary Kamei, District 1
representative, and Sig Sanchez, also of Gilroy but an at-large
member, usually receives an annual 5 percent increase, said water
district spokesman Mike DiMarco.
San Jose – The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Board of Directors will vote today on whether its seven members should receive a 5 percent pay raise.
The board, which includes Rosemary Kamei, District 1 representative, and Sig Sanchez, also of Gilroy but an at-large member, usually receives an annual 5 percent increase, said water district spokesman Mike DiMarco.
If the board approves the $10-per-meeting raise, board members will receive $214.41 for each meeting in 2005.
“They have a minimum of two meetings per month, but they also represent the district at subcommimttee meetings, meetings with legislators, meetings with counties, meetings with cities,” DiMarco said.
DiMarco did not know how many days per month directors are currently working, but there is a 10-meeting maximum per month.
The water district says the financial impact of the raise will be $714.70 per month, or $8,756.40 per year, which allows for board members to attend the maximum number of meetings each month. There are enough funds in this fiscal year’s budget to cover the increase.
For the 2005-06 fiscal year, the financial impact will be $4,378.20, according to the district.
DiMarco said the pay increase is comparable to what other special districts in the Bay Area are receiving.
The water district board members are elected to serve and most also work regular jobs. They may obtain full benefits through the district, which they pay for themselves.
Wholesale water rates went up 25 percent this summer after a rate increase was approved by the board of directors and county supervisors. Now, residential customers are expected to be paying about $16 more per year, but some farmers could be paying even more. The district cited rising importing costs and the need to hire more personnel.
The item is listed on the consent agenda for the meeting, but a public hearing will be held, during which the board will hear any comments.
