Grand Jury Gives Lamorinda Elected Officials a Thumbs Up

A Civil Grand Jury reviewing the spending habits of 19 cities and 27 independent special districts in Contra Costa County uncovered significant differences in compensation costs for many cities of similar size, but gives Lamorinda's leadership high marks for their thrifty use of taxpayer's money.

“Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda had minimal expenses for their elected leaders," the Grand Jury report states.

In Lamorinda, Lafayette manages to keep Council compensation the lowest at $631 a year; with Moraga coming in at $2,673 and Orinda at $2,801.

Lamorinda city elected officials - the report points out - opt to not be paid, spending little to nothing on meeting fees, pension, health-care compensation and with no allowances for car, cell phone, internet access and travel costs.

Grand Jury reviewers found that eight cities (Antioch, Concord, Danville, Hercules, Martinez, Richmond, San Pablo and San Ramon) spend more than the county-wide average of $39,377 for salary and meeting fees. The Grand Jury recommended reductions in salary and meeting fee expenses for councils in these cities.

Twelve cities pay for elected officials' pensions or other forms of retirement benefits; 12 pay elected officials' health care costs; eight pay life insurance premiums and six pay for cell phone or Internet access.

The Grand Jury surveyed all 19 cities in the County as well as the 27 largest independent special districts that have their own publicly elected Boards of Directors. Population information for the analysis was obtained from Local Agency Formation Commission reports. The survey collected data for Fiscal Years (FY) 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Information was requested for the following categories pertaining to annual expenditures for elected officials: salary and/or meeting fees, health care insurance costs, pension or deferred compensation, life insurance premiums, car allowance or mileage, cell phone and/or internet access and travel and conference costs.

“Historically, elected officials have looked upon their work as public service for the betterment of the community,” the report states. “The Grand Jury recognizes those agencies that pay nothing or minimum compensation and thus demonstrate the spirit of public service.”

The report also determined that the Moraga-Orinda Fire District board, which serves 42,000 residents, spends a mere $50 in total cost for compensation expenses for its members while the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, supporting 158,071 residents, spends more than $12,330.