Common Council members have voted themselves an allowance for using their own cars on official business, saying they are out and about often and their costs are not paid.
Members haven't had mileage money for their cars in years, so gasoline and costs for the cars have come out of their own pockets. Since some members claim they run up thousands of miles a year on official business, they will now get $5,000 a year for their cars, as long as they certify they have used their own cars for 120 days a year.
Council member Rasheed Wyatt said constituents expect them to show up in their districts, leading to a lot of driving.
"It's something that was done appropriately," said Wyatt. "we do this because we love what we do. We didn't do it to make a lot of money. We know we aren't going to make a lot of money. But, I think this is a small amount of compensation."
Majority Leader David Rivera says he wanted the issue on the table publicly.
"We've been very fiscally conservative and responsible and it's not always easy to give yourself just a little bit of a stipend, a little bit of a bump or something to help you. Nobody wants to do it. But, I understand and appreciate all the work that all the council members do. So, certainly I support this and I felt it was important that we have at least some conversation," Rivera said.
Council members haven't had a raise in a quarter of a century. However, they recently voted to raise the extra stipends for official positions like council president or committee chair. By the time all of those positions were handed out, all members received extra money.
"This small amount is not even commensurate to what the work calls for. Some days, I leave the house at 8 o'clock and I don't get home until after 8 because we are traveling to and about all of these other meetings. It's a delight for me when I'm at a meeting and someone says to me, 'Councilman, I see you everywhere.' Thank you, that's what you elected me to do," added Councilmember Ulysees Wingo.
The cash for the cars was put into the budget when it took effect July 1.
