BLOG: No Pay Raise for Me While City Government Faces Budget Shortfall
Sam Adams
-----Original Message-----
From: Adams, Sam
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 5:47 PM
To: Rhys, David
Subject: RE: Request needed if elected official salary to be frozen effective July 1, 2005
David,
I do not believe it is appropriate for me to accept a pay increase given that the City of Portland has to cut an estimated $19 million from its General Fund budget over the next two fiscal years. As such, I request that my salary be frozen at its current rate. I realize that my estimated salary savings of $2,400 is paltry compared to the City's needs, but it's better than no savings at all.
Yours,
Sam
-----Original Message-----
From: Rhys, David
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 10:58 AM
To: Potter, Tom; Leonard, Randy; Adams, Sam; Saltzman, Dan; Sten, Erik; Hamilton, Nancy
Cc: Kanwit, Anna; Hamilton, Nancy; Cogen, Jeff; Durston, Bob; Miller, Tom; Kovatch, Ty
Subject: Request needed if elected official salary to be frozen effective July 1, 2005
Mayor and Commissioners--
On June 15, 2005, City Council approved cost of living adjustments to pay rates for nonrepresented employees and Elected Officials. New item "g." was added to the ordinance via an amendment and approved as part of the ordinance. It provides the following:
g. Notwithstanding the above, the Mayor and individual Commissioner’s salaries shall be frozen at the current rate upon their request.
A copy of the ordinance document is attached to this e-mail.
Current and July 1. 2005 rates are as follows:
Current July 1, 2005
Mayor $50.47 $51.83
Commissioner $42.51 $43.66
If you would like your salary to be frozen at the current rate, please send the Bureau of Human Resources a written request--email is fine--but we must receive the request before July 1, 2005 to process it. If you do not submit a request to BHR, we will simply apply the new applicable July 1, 2005 rate.
If you or your office has questions about this request, please contact me or Anna Kanwit.
David J. Rhys
Class/Comp Manager
City of Portland, Bureau of Human Resources
Posted by Sam Adams on June 24, 2005
(6) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Blog, Good Government
Comments by site visitors
Come on, Sam.... Enough with your blatant publicity efforts. Your blog is sickening to me. You probably wasted more than $2400 in city staff time just talking about your altruism.
I suggest that you get off your high horse and actually do some real work. This is ridiculous.
Posted by: samsanidiot | Aug 11, 2005 5:24:52 PM
I disagree. Soo many politicians won't walk their talk. Sam said the city needs to cut spending and starts with his own automatic salary increase, pretty cool... if you don't like his blog don't read it. I like it.
Kate in Se portland
Posted by: Kate | Aug 11, 2005 9:21:42 PM
To "samsanidiot"......
Kate is right...you really need to move along and be involved things where you'll (with any luck) have some sort of a positive influence -- and leave those of us alone who have developed a fine appreciation for those who are deeply imbeded in public service. To disagree with someone is fine.....to call them an idiot is not. You're out of line.
Posted by: Arnie | Aug 14, 2005 9:26:46 PM
Commissioner Sam,
I think it is admirable for you to forgo your pay raise, but I’m one of the hardworking employees who has been trying to “earn a pay raise” for the past 12 years from the City of Portland. I have single-handedly saved enough money for the taxpayers to pay yours and my salaries combined.
I have involved myself in contract negotiations to convince the city at bargaining that my services are worthy of additional compensation.
The most disgusting part is that every contract over those years, the labor force who provides the majority of the “SERVICES” never do receive raises outside of a COLA (Cost of living adjustment) which usually only amounts to a couple of percent, while the upper level bureau management receive double digit raises after our union contract is signed!
Posted by: Tim Sessler | Dec 22, 2005 9:48:08 PM
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SAdams: "I do not believe it is appropriate for me to **except** a pay increase..."
So much for grammar in Portland.
Posted by: David King | Jun 29, 2005 7:05:03 PM