From Staff Reports
What are the biggest issues facing Apopka?
It's a question debated on local social media and by candidates vying for mayor. But among the range of answers, there is a topic that has never surfaced—city commissioner pay. Despite the subject taking on a low level of importance, the Apopka City Council scheduled a workshop to discuss commissioner salaries for 6 p.m. Wednesday, with its regular meeting to follow.
The Council will review current compensation and consider whether adjustments are warranted. The workshop comes after questions from Commissioner Nadia Anderson during a prior council meeting prompted a closer look at how elected officials are compensated. Anderson told colleagues that a resident had asked her about commissioner salaries, sparking a discussion that ultimately led to the workshop.
Related: Do commissioners deserve higher pay?
Human Resources Director Joseph Patton presented findings at a previous meeting, sharing results from a comparative study of commissioner pay in nearby municipalities.
“There is no legal framework for how to decide on commissioner compensation,” Patton said, noting that policies vary widely from city to city. Some municipalities tie pay to population, others maintain a flat starting rate, and a few adjust salaries annually.
Apopka commissioners currently earn $17,400 per year, with the vice mayor receiving an additional $300. By comparison, Sanford tops the list at $25,032, while the average salary among the 12 comparable cities studied is $9,963. Over the last decade, commissioner pay has steadily increased, with salaries rising from $13,500 in Fiscal Year 2019 to the current rate.
Related: Without a clear vision from its leaders, the Apopka community risks drifting from one debate to the next.
Mayor Bryan Nelson raised questions about population-based pay.
“Do any of the cities you have listed here have any kind of salary based on population growth?”
Patton replied that only a few cities appear to follow that model.
Commissioner Diane Velazquez reflected on how the role of commissioners has evolved over the years.
“When I first became commissioner, I had noticed that we weren’t very involved in the community and certainly not involved in the process,” she said. “They used to just show up and vote. But I think over the years, we have all grown, each one of us. We are at every community event, we support different organizations, the public has more access to us than ever, and our city keeps growing and growing.”
Section 2.03 of the City Charter establishes that any changes to commissioner compensation cannot take effect until at least six months after an ordinance or law is adopted.
