Post by Logan on May 11, 2016 13:15:37 GMT -6
Bill Creating Commission To Set Pay Of Public Officials Passes Full Senate
ST. THOMAS — The full Senate on Monday voted 15-0 to send a bill dubbed the Public Officials Compensation Act — which seeks to create a compensation commission with the goal of setting salaries of public officials every four years — to Governor Kenneth Mapp for his ratification or veto.
Senators revisited the infamous 2006 measure, passed after dark, that raised the salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor and all senators. They also spoke of the controversial salary increases that Mr. Mapp gave to his cabinet members soon after he took office.
“I think that by putting a commission in place that would look at the need for increases when there is a need for increase, or for no increase when there is no need for increase — that it would take the responsibility and the pressure off the elected officials and place it in the hands of people in our community, and those who can actually evaluate our performance from a more objective point of view rather than subjective,” said Senator Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly, who has said the 31st Legislature may be her last cycle as a senator.
The commission would take effect on January 15, 2017 and would be comprised of three members appointed by the Senate president, three by the sitting governor and three by the Virgin Islands Supreme Court’s chief justice. Once the commission completes its work of setting salary increases, it would be disbanded and reformed four years later.
Read more: viconsortium.com/featured/bill-creating-commission-set-pay-public-officials-passes-full-senate/
ST. THOMAS — The full Senate on Monday voted 15-0 to send a bill dubbed the Public Officials Compensation Act — which seeks to create a compensation commission with the goal of setting salaries of public officials every four years — to Governor Kenneth Mapp for his ratification or veto.
Senators revisited the infamous 2006 measure, passed after dark, that raised the salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor and all senators. They also spoke of the controversial salary increases that Mr. Mapp gave to his cabinet members soon after he took office.
“I think that by putting a commission in place that would look at the need for increases when there is a need for increase, or for no increase when there is no need for increase — that it would take the responsibility and the pressure off the elected officials and place it in the hands of people in our community, and those who can actually evaluate our performance from a more objective point of view rather than subjective,” said Senator Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly, who has said the 31st Legislature may be her last cycle as a senator.
The commission would take effect on January 15, 2017 and would be comprised of three members appointed by the Senate president, three by the sitting governor and three by the Virgin Islands Supreme Court’s chief justice. Once the commission completes its work of setting salary increases, it would be disbanded and reformed four years later.
Read more: viconsortium.com/featured/bill-creating-commission-set-pay-public-officials-passes-full-senate/