The Santa Clara Valley Water District directors will vote on
whether or not to give themselves a 10 percent pay increase at
their regular meeting Tuesday.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District directors will vote on whether or not to give themselves a 10 percent pay increase at their regular meeting Tuesday.
Directors are considering raising the amount they’re paid to attend meetings and events by $12, or 5 percent, $23 or 10 percent, or keep the stipend at its current level of $236.39.
The seven members are compensated up to 10 days per month to attend meetings.
District spokesperson Susan Siravo said state code allows the board to raise their compensation by 5 percent per year to keep up with inflation. Because the directors voted to forego a pay increase for 2008, they may give themselves a 10 percent raise for 2009, Siravo said.
The board has been steeped in controversy recently related to spending and hiring of personnel. District salaries are the highest in the state while they continue to raise rates, and former CEO Stan Williams resigned after hiring then-director Greg Zlotnick for a $184,000-a-year job without authorization from the board.
The last year for which the Valley Water District board approved a 5 percent raise was 2006, said Siravo. Board chair Rosemary Kamei and vice-chair Sig Sanchez chose to keep their pay at the 2005 rate of $225.13.
Morgan Hill resident and frequent water district critic Terry Mahurin called the pay increase “ill-proposed,” especially since the economy is struggling.
Furthermore, he complained about the board’s history of loose spending habits, and rate increases for customers that are projected to continue for several years.
“I have not seen any fiscal responsibility or restraint on the part of the board of directors,” said Mahurin, who ran for the South Santa Clara County seat on the board and lost in 2006.
Calls to Rosemary Kamei were not immediately returned.
The board will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the district’s headquarters at 5700 Almaden Expressway in San Jose.
