Hollywood Commissioners Vote to Give Themselves a Significant Pay Raise

City Commission Approves Salary Increases

• 💰 The Hollywood City Commission voted to increase its own salaries just before the July 4th holiday in a sparsely attended meeting.
• 📈 Commissioners who previously earned around $50,000 annually will now make $70,000 per year.
• 🏛️ The mayor's salary saw a larger jump, from $53,000 to $100,000 annually.

Public and Commissioner Reactions

• 😡 The decision has sparked outrage among community members, with some calling the vote "outrageous" and "despicable."
• 👍 A few residents supported the raise, suggesting commissioners deserved it, but felt there should have been more advanced notice.
• 🗣️ Commissioner Peter Hernandez acknowledged that while the vote was lawful, many feel it was "snuck in."

Justification for the Raises

• 📅 Hernandez stated that the item was on an agenda before the July 4th holiday, and subsequent meetings had speakers both for and against the measure.
• 💼 The mayor, via text, defended the raises as an investment in "stronger, more representative leadership" for Hollywood, a city of over 150,000 residents.
• ⚖️ The mayor emphasized that governing the city is a full-time job, not part-time, requiring constant availability.

Aims and Comparisons

• ⚖️ Commissioners Karen Shuham and Adelma Canana voted against the salary increase.
• 🌟 Hernandez and the mayor believe higher salaries will attract newer and younger talent to the commission.
• 📊 The pay increase aims to align Hollywood's commissioner salaries with those in Fort Lauderdale.
• 🛡️ The raises are also intended to preemptively address potential future state actions that might affect local government compensation.