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Offcials boost travel stipend

By GINA PACE
Published September 13, 2006

DADE CITY - City commissioners decided to keep a proposed 79 percent hike in the money that they allot themselves for travel and attendance at conferences.

The bump in the city's budget - from $7,000 last year to $12,500 - will make Dade City the biggest such spender in Pasco County.

During a budget workshop Tuesday, Mayor Hutch Brock had concerns about the increase, saying it sends the wrong message to spend the money during an otherwise slim budget year.

"We don't want to look like a group that's just trying to build resumes," Brock said.

The $12,500 works out to $2,500 for each commissioner and the mayor to spend on conference registration, hotel rooms and travel expenses. Brock proposed reducing the allotment back to $7,000.

Other Pasco cities, including New Port Richey - Pasco's largest city with more than 16,000 residents - spend less for conferences. New Port Richey is budgeting $9,000 for next year. Port Richey allocates $7,700 total but sets aside $2,500 for training if any new council members are elected. Zephyrhills budgets $9,000 for the council members and the mayor.

But Dade City's four commissioners were firm, disagreeing with the mayor.

"If you've got someone to work for you, you need to provide for them to do it. It's a labor of love. No one is in it for the money - a hundred bucks a month," said Commissioner Scott Black, referring to the stipend that commissioners are paid.

Commissioner Camille Hernandez also cited the low salary in her decision.

"We haven't seen an increase in salaries," said Hernandez, who was elected in April. "I donate mine back to the community."

City Manager Harold Sample said only two other Pasco municipalities - St. Leo, which does not pay its commissioners, and San Antonio, whose commissioners are paid $50 a month and the mayor $100 a month - pay their elected officials less than Dade City.

Dade City commissioners participate in annual conferences such as the Florida League of Cities and education programs like Leadership Pasco, the same conferences other municipal officials in Pasco County attend.

Brock suggested that commissioners rotate attendance at those conferences and report back what they learned to the rest of the board, like some other cities do.

Commissioner Steve Van Gorden, however, thought all of their participation was key.

"It helps me personally make better decisions for my constituents," he said.

The final public hearing on the budget will be at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in the City Hall Annex.

Times staff writer Molly Moorhead contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 13, 2006, 01:14:54]