Norfolk Mayor
Paul Fraim believes his colleagues on city council deserve a raise.
Even so, state law sets the salaries of mayors and city council members. The legislature would have to approve a measure to raise salaries and the politics of such a move could be tricky and protracted. Yet Fraim, influential with legislators, said he would lobby for raises, even though he's retiring from public office next year.
Compensation for elected officials also includes other benefits, such as
city-sponsored health coverage and retirement. Under state law, elected officials are entitled to the same benefits as city and county employees.
Some
cities are frugal with benefits, such as Virginia Beach.
“None of them, mayor or council members, gets health insurance or retirement through the city,” said city spokesman Marc Davis. “The council last approved a pay raise in 2005.”
The mayor of Virginia Beach is paid $30,000 a year and council members are each paid $28,000 a year.
Others, such
as Norfolk and Portsmouth, are more generous with compensation. (See tables.)
Norfolk's
elected officials last got a pay raise in 2003, according to city
spokeswoman, Lori Crouch.
Mayor Fraim's base salary rose eight percent, from $25,000 in 2002 to
$27,000 in 2003. The salaries of city council members rose nine
percent, from $23,000 in 2002 to $25,000 in 2003.
Additional
compensation, such as health insurance and retirement, adds another
30 percent to the base salary, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
| City Council Compensation | ||||
| Health | ||||
| Norfolk | Profession/Job | Base Salary | Insurance | Retirement |
| Fraim | Attorney | $27,000 | No | No |
| Graves | Real estate agent | $25,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Johnson | Educator | $25,000 | No | Yes |
| Protogyrou | Attorney | $25,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Riddick | Business Owner | $25,000 | Yes | No |
| Smigiel | Educator | $25,000 | N/A | Yes |
| Whibley | Medical Doctor | $25,000 | Yes | No |
| Winn | Business Owner | $25,000 | Yes | No |
Source:
City of Norfolk
N/A:
Smigiel is covered as a Norfolk Public Schools Employee
| Health | ||||
| Portsmouth | Profession/Job | Base Salary | Insurance | Retirement |
| Wright | Engineer | $25,000 | No | Yes |
| Psimas | Business Owner | $23,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Moody | Business Owner | $23,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Cherry | Govt./USCG | $23,000 | No | Yes |
| Edmonds | Pastor | $23,000 | No | Yes |
| Meeks | Business Owner | $23,000 | No | No |
| Whitaker | Educator | $23,000 | No | No |
Source:
City of Portsmouth