Editorial: Columbia City Council doesn’t deserve extra perks

COLUMBIA City Council should quickly reject a proposal that the city provide health benefits to elected officials who leave office after serving just three consecutive terms, or 12 years. The perk would be unearned and insulting to the city’s retirees and current employees.

City Council members now are eligible for health benefits from the city while they are in office. But councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine contends the benefits should continue for some former council members. “Service to citizens shouldn’t mean that you can’t provide for yourself and your family long term,” Ms. Devine said.

She also wants council members to discuss giving themselves their first pay raise in nine years. Council members now earn $13,350 a year.

Without a doubt, most of the people we elect to public office are underpaid for their service. The most conscientious public servants spend many hours each week meeting with constituents, preparing for council meetings, helping residents maneuver through city hall, attending official functions and performing a multitude of other tasks.

Voters should value people from all walks of life who run for and are elected to local, state and federal positions. Attracting a wide range of qualified candidates requires offering benefits that help the non-rich and the non-privileged make ends meet while they are in office.

Columbia City Council members deserve a reasonable level of pay and health benefits.

But candidates who seek office should know that if they win, sacrifices must be made. Their primary motivations should be public service and a desire to make their community better.

As Councilman Cameron Runyon said: “It should be a sacrifice.”

Councilwoman Devine’s proposal would make City Council members eligible for a perk that’s not available to full-time city employees. Those employees, along with current council members, must work 28 years to be eligible for city health benefits after retirement.

Ms. Devine says council members should get that benefit after serving just 12 years.

It’s fine for council members to discuss a nominal pay raise. But thoughts of offering health benefits to former council members and their dependents after just 12 years in office should be squelched. Now.

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Editorial: Columbia City Council doesn’t deserve extra perks."