One of the candidates in the race for city of Orlando commissioner, District 5, Cynthia Harris, has described the 21% pay hike in the Mayor’s and commissioners’ salaries as “shocking and disturbing.”
“Although, the City Council voted not to give themselves an increase in both 2008 and 2009, nothing indicates any significant rationale for an increase now,” Harris said. “The decision to serve the public in a Public Service role, by design, should be more about sacrifice than self.”
Noting that the City Council voted a mere 3% increase for city workers, Harris said, “The question is how will a 21% increase benefit the taxpayers? If it doesn’t then it is probably the belief of public opinion that 3% should be across the board. The City will give employees a 3% raise, but with higher medical insurance cost it does not equate to the cost of living.”
Harris also questioned whether the whopping 21% increase for Mayor Buddy Dyer and the commissioners would result in a decrease in services to city constituents.
“For City employees, giving yourself a 21% increase is a slap in the face when you are working hard to help keep a City functioning. When I look at this issue, the first thing I ask is whether the constituents think that the council has done a good job for them especially when it comes to Commissioner Daisy Lynum’s representation of District 5,” said Harris. “Raises for City Council should be based on pay for performance. It is the standard that Orange County teachers are held to, why not our Mayor and City council?”
Harris is one of two candidates who will face off against long-time city Commissioner Daisy Lynum in District 5, in the April 8, 2014 municipal elections.
Last week, Lynum said, she voted for the pay increase so as not to stand in the way of fellow commissioners.
