They should have been braver earlier
We understand that it’s not a good look to give yourself a pay raise when you’re a public official. It can come across as self-serving.
When Congress does it, it always seems to take place late at night when the news cycles are over and members hope no one is watching. They get plenty of perks on top of their salaries.
Ocean City Council introduced an ordinance last week that would double their pay and the mayor’s pay starting in 2024 and then tie future raises directly to the contracts they sign with the city’s unions.
Previous councils should have been a little braver years ago with incremental pay raises to avoid the sticker shock when taxpayers hear they’re doubling their salaries.
We don’t believe our elected officials in Ocean City should get rich off of their compensation for what amounts to a part-time job that they actively sought. However, the pay should at least reflect the reality of what they are asked to do and the responsiblities that they have.
Council President Pete Madden and Mayor Jay Gillian pointed out a few justifications for the increase – primarily because it will be some 18 years since the last pay raise that moved them from $15,900 to $20,000 for mayor and $7,950 to $10,000 for council. That was back in 2005 to 2006. They also noted that their compensation wasn’t commensurate with that of other towns, but we don’t believe that should be the major factor.
We do believe their responsibilities of overseeing a community with $12.5 billion in ratables, a budget of nearly $100 million, 276 year-round employees and almost quadruple that of summer workers are what justifies the pay increase.
These are part-time jobs, but the responsibilities loom large. Their decisions can have major impacts not only on the roughly 11,000 year-round residents, but the 150,000 to 250,000 visitors and second-homeowners who descend on the resort during the peak summer months.
Madden noted that Ocean City’s elected officials aren’t in it for the money. While some would argue that means they shouldn’t be concerned over what they are paid, we see the higher pay as making them feel even more committed to their positions and what can amount to 24/7 availability by residents and visitors alike for any problem that arises, whether it is under their purview or not.