DALLAS — Dallas City Council continued its discussion Wednesday of proposed amendments to the city's charter -- which ranged from technical language adjustments to altering when voters elect city officials.
The City Council meeting is only the latest step in a lengthy process in the once-in-a-decade changes to the city's defacto constitution. Review from council members follows public input and extensive feedback from the city's charter review commission.
The final alterations by council members will be sent to voters for their approval in November.
Among the changes discussed Wednesday was a proposal to more than double pay for city council members -- from the current $60,000 per year to $125,000. It would also increase the mayor's salary to $140,000 -- and tie future increases for the elected officials to inflation.
"I am not afraid to say we deserve more pay," said Council member Adam Bazaldua. "I genuinely love my job, but I also love being able to pay my bills. I also love being able to provide a quality of life for my daughter."
However Bazaldua -- and others -- balked at the amount of the raise suggested by the charter review committee and proposed a lower increase, which they say will also help encourage more working and middle class residents to run for office.
"I know that folks will look at this and say 'oh they're just trying to get a raise for themselves,'" Council member Carolyn King Arnold said. "We're really probably paving the way for other councilmembers."
But others expressed opposition to the increase. Councilmember Paul Ridley said he believed it strikes "a bad note" as the city is contemplating budget cuts across departments.
"We need to make sure that we're serving the public," Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins said to his fellow councilmembers. "If you don't want to do that, you shouldn't be around this horseshoe. If it's about the money for you -- resign."
The council ultimately decided to ask city staff to compile additional data before deciding what to do at a meeting later month.
The showdown over salary is just one of the proposed changes to the charter -- others include moving city elections from May to November in a bid to increase turnout, changing how term limits work for council members, and allowing the city to put its police chief under contract.
The latter became an issue in recent weeks as Houston and Austin courted Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia to be their top cop. Garcia ultimately decided to stay in Dallas.
Sources told WFAA at the time that a contract was one way to keep him in the city on a long-term basis. The charter amendment, proposed by the mayor, would allow the city to offer him one.
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