Disagreements over how much Rockville should pay its mayor and council members are likely to come to a head Monday when the current leadership votes on hefty raises of which some former government office holders are highly suspect.
The compensation commission’s suggestion is for council members’ payments to increase from about $20,000 currently to $30,000 next fiscal year, $35,000 the year after that, and end up at $40,000 by fiscal year 2010. For the mayor, the same step-ladder approach brings his pay from $25,750 to $45,000 by July 2009.
The rationale is that the increases are needed to attract quality candidates for public office, as well as to keep up with the large salaries of the city’s department heads, with the highest-paid one, City Manager Scott Ullery, pulling in $185,000 plus a 10 percent pension. Nine of the city’s 10 department heads earn in excess of $135,000 annually.
The way Rockville’s government is arranged, the council and mayor collectively form the city’s legislative body and are charged with being the community’s decision maker. The city manager carries out the council’s policies while preparing budgets and recruiting and supervising all government staff. Former council member Jim Marrinan has told The Examiner, the mayor and council slots were never meant to be more than part-time duties with part-time level payments. Rockville’s new rates would put most regional jurisdictions’ payments to shame, according to comparison information compiled by Rockville staff.
Among Maryland and Virginia cities of similar-sized populations utilizing the same governmental structure, the only one close is Ocean City, which pays its mayor $30,000 a year.
Top Rockville salaries
» Scott Ullery, city manager — $185,000
» Gavin Cohen, finance director — $142,556
» Burton Hall, recreation director — $142,566
