COUNCIL CONSIDERS RAISES MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR 40% PAY HIKES.

Byline: Jim Skeen  Staff Writer

PALMDALE - City Council members are considering giving themselves their first pay raise in nearly nine years.

Under state law, the council is entitled to a pay increase of as much as 40 percent - 5 percent for each year from their last raise, which was in 1992. The council does have the option of adopting a pay increase of less than 40 percent, officials said.

``We put this off because we wanted to wait until we had a full council, and we wanted to look to see we would have to pick up the 5 percent for every year,'' said Councilman Mike Dispenza. ``We don't have to pick up every year.''

Dispenza said he would like to see the council's pay raised 5 percent - which would amount to $30 a month extra for council members and $50 a month for the mayor. The council will consider the issue when they meet Wednesday night.

Council members receive a monthly stipend of $600 per month, a pay rate set by state law in 1992 for cities with populations over 75,000. The mayor receives a stipend of $1,000 per month.

Because of tough economic times during the early and mid-1990s, previous councils have held off on the pay raise. Officials say economic times are now better, with the city adding 16 new positions and boosting city salaries 3.5 percent in this year's budget.

The pay raise issue came up during summer budget sessions, but the council opted to wait until voters filled two vacancies on the council. The council operated with just three members during much of 2000 because of the resignations of Kevin Carney in January and Shelley Sorsabal in April.