RESOLUTION NO. RS2003-1415

A resolution requesting the Blue Ribbon Committee, appointed to study the compensation of Metropolitan Government elected officials, to recommend increasing the compensation of members of council as part of the general pay plan to adequately reflect the present day value of the original compensation for members of council that was provided in the Metropolitan Charter in 1963.

WHEREAS, a Blue Ribbon Committee has been appointed by the Vice Mayor to study the salaries of Metropolitan Government elected officials and to make a recommendation to the director of the Metropolitan Department of Human Resources regarding potential changes in salaries for elected officials; and

WHEREAS, the rate of compensation for members of council was set in the Charter in April of1963 at three hundred dollars ($300.00) per month; and

WHEREAS, the rate of compensation in 2003 for members of council is five hundred seventy-five dollars ($575.00) per month; and

WHEREAS, the rate of compensation for members of council has not kept pace with inflation, cost of living increases, and increases in salary of other Metropolitan Government officials and employees over the past forty years; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the salary paid to members of council be increased to adequately reflect the present day value of the original rate of compensation as provided in the Metropolitan Charter in 1963.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Blue Ribbon Committee, appointed to study the compensation of Metropolitan Government elected officials, to recommend increasing the rate of compensation for members of council as part of the general pay plan to adequately reflect the present day value of the original compensation for members of council that was provided in the Metropolitan Charter in 1963.

Section 2. The Blue Ribbon Committee is further requested, in determining whether to increase the rate of compensation for members of council, to consider all relevant information, including but not limited to, the rate of inflation over the past forty years, the increase in the cost of living, actuarial information based upon the consumer price index, the increase in the salary of members of council over the past forty years as compared to the increase in salary of other Metropolitan Government officials and employees, and other relevant statistical information.

Section 3. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed to study the compensation of Metropolitan Government elected officials.

Section 4. The Blue Ribbon Committee is further requested to inform the Metropolitan Council of the feasibility of and/or the actions taken in compliance with the request contained in Section 1 hereof, not later than sixty (60) days after the adoption of this Resolution.

Section 5. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye N. Wallace