study group final report
TRANSCRIPT
September 7, 2021
RALEIGH CITY COUNCIL
ELECTION TERMS
COMPENSATION
VOTER PARTICIPATION
Study Group Final Report
Eric Braun (Chair) Ashton Smith
Justin Sutton (Vice Chair) Nervahna Crew
Harvey Schmitt (Secretary) Catherine Lawson
Eugene Weeks Beth Trahos
Diana Powell Robbie Rikard
Members
Study Group
Asked City Council to appoint a group to study…
• Terms
• Compensation
• Voter Engagement and Participation
• Size of Council
Citizen Petition on January 7, 2020
How We Got Here. . .
Interim Report Issued on June 15, 2021
• Flexibility to Address Recommendations
• Promote Citizen Engagement
• Potential to Modify the Study Group’s Charge
Study Group
• Be Respectful
• Be Patient
• Be Prepared
• Be Present
Ground Rules
Guiding Principle
Study Group reached consensus on all
recommendations.
Consensus
A Hybrid Approach
METHODOLOGY
• Similar Research for Charlotte
City Council
• Raleigh Study Group Research
• Facilitate Timely Report by
Combining Data
• Strategic goals vs. local issues & constituent service
• Structured as an integrated whole to balance these competing
interests
• “Whole is greater than the sum of its parts”
METHODOLOGYBalancing Competing Interests
1. 4-Year Terms
2. Staggered Terms
3. Even Year Elections
4. Increase Total Compensation
5. Develop & Implement Voter Engagement
Program
6. Add 1 New District Council Position
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATION #14-Year Terms
Increasing Complexity 1973 2021
• Population: 131,000 467,665
• Size: 47 147 square miles
General Fund Budget: $543,672,881
Total Budget: $1,069,508,785
Staggering terms maintains voters’ ability to
signal dissatisfaction and to demand course
corrections every two years.
District Councilors elected on one side of the
cycle and the Mayor and At-large Councilors on
the other side.
RECOMMENDATION #2Staggered Terms
Increase Total Compensation
• Raleigh should adequately compensate elected officials for
the time, effort and sacrifice required to serve the City
effectively
• That is not the case today
• Higher total compensation will result in more diverse
candidates
• Review every 4 non-election years to ensure ongoing
adequacy
RECOMMENDATION #3
NC Mayoral Total Compensation
North Carolina City/County
Mayor/Chair Current Annual
Stipend
Mayor/Chair Annual Expense
Allowance
Mayor/Chair Annual Auto
Allowance
Mayor/Chair Annual
Technology Allowance
Mayor/Chair Total Compensation
Charlotte - NEW $39,646 $9,795 $5,192 $5,235 $59,868
Mecklenburg County $37,370 $9,233 $4,893 $4,935 $56,431
Charlotte - CURRENT $27,196 $10,000 $4,800 $3,100 $45,096
Winston‐Salem $23,400 $8,400 $3,900 $ ‐ $35,700
Durham County $29,920 $ ‐ $3,300 $2,100 $35,320
Greensboro $30,475 $ ‐ $4,200 $ ‐ $34,675
Fayetteville $32,518 $ ‐ $ ‐ $1,112 $33,630
Wake County $28,517 $ ‐ $3,000 $300 $31,817
Durham $29,289 $ ‐ $2,400 $ ‐ $31,689
New Hanover County $26,074 $ ‐ $3,640 $900 $30,614
Raleigh - CURRENT $24,550 $1,200 $1,800 $ - $27,550
Cary $13,754 $ ‐ $10,590 $2,460 $26,804
Forsyth County $25,560 $ ‐ $ ‐ IPad/Cell phone $25,560
Guilford County $23,400 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $23,400
Asheville $22,898 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $22,898
Wilmington $15,228 $ ‐ $4,200 $2,400 $21,828
High Point $14,400 $4,200 $ ‐ $ ‐ $18,600
NC Councilor Total Compensation
North Carolina City/County
Council Member Current Annual
Stipend
Council Member Annual Expense
Allowance
Council Member Annual Auto Allowance
Council Member Annual Technology
Allowance
Council Member Total
Compensation
Charlotte - NEW $32,638 $9,795 $4,776 $5,235 $52,444
Mecklenburg County $29,894 $9,233 $4,501 $4,935 $48,563
Charlotte - CURRENT $21,015 $5,800 $4,000 $3,100 $33,915
Durham County $25,417 $ ‐ $3,300 $2,100 $30,817
Wake County $24,315 $ ‐ $3,000 $300 $27,615
Durham $24,879 $ ‐ $2,400 $ ‐ $27,279
Winston‐Salem $18,220 $5,100 $3,900 $ ‐ $27,220
Forsyth County $27,012 $ ‐ $ ‐ IPad/Cell phone $27,012
Greensboro $23,377 $ ‐ $3,000 $ ‐ $26,377
Cary $11,493 $ ‐ $9,626 $2,460 $23,579
Guilford County $20,700 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $20,700
Raleigh - CURRENT $18,021 $ - $1,200 $504 $19,725
Fayetteville $17,779 $ ‐ $ ‐ $1,112 $18,891
New Hanover County $17,890 $ ‐ $ ‐ $900 $18,790
Wilmington $11,592 $ ‐ $4,200 $2,400 $18,192
Asheville $17,525 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $17,525
High Point $10,800 $3,600 $ ‐ $ ‐ $14,400
METHODOLOGY
• Reviewed NC and National “peer” cities
• Benchmarked against top three NC jurisdictions
• Established target annual stipend
• Adjusted expense allowances
Stipend: $36,511
Expense Allowance: $6,000
Car Allowance: $2,400
Technology Allowance: $1,000
Total Compensation: $45,911
Mayor Total Compensation Proposed
NC Mayoral Total Compensation
North Carolina City/County
Mayor/Chair Current Annual
Stipend
Mayor/Chair Annual Expense
Allowance
Mayor/Chair Annual Auto
Allowance
Mayor/Chair Annual Technology
Allowance
Mayor/Chair Total Compensation
Charlotte - NEW $39,646 $9,795 $5,192 $5,235 $59,868
Mecklenburg County $37,370 $9,233 $4,893 $4,935 $56,431
Raleigh - PROPOSED $36,511 $6,000 $2,400 $1,000 $45,911
Charlotte - CURRENT $27,196 $10,000 $4,800 $3,100 $45,096
Winston‐Salem $23,400 $8,400 $3,900 $ ‐ $35,700
Durham County $29,920 $ ‐ $3,300 $2,100 $35,320
Greensboro $30,475 $ ‐ $4,200 $ ‐ $34,675
Fayetteville $32,518 $ ‐ $ ‐ $1,112 $33,630
Wake County $28,517 $ ‐ $3,000 $300 $31,817
Durham $29,289 $ ‐ $2,400 $ ‐ $31,689
New Hanover County $26,074 $ ‐ $3,640 $900 $30,614
Raleigh - CURRENT $24,550 $1,200 $1,800 $ - $27,550
Cary $13,754 $ ‐ $10,590 $2,460 $26,804
Forsyth County $25,560 $ ‐ $ ‐ IPad/Cell phone $25,560
Guilford County $23,400 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $23,400
Asheville $22,898 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $22,898
Wilmington $15,228 $ ‐ $4,200 $2,400 $21,828
High Point $14,400 $4,200 $ ‐ $ ‐ $18,600
Stipend: $29,848
Expense Allowance: $4,000
Car Allowance: $2,400
Technology Allowance: $1,000
Total Compensation: $37,248
Councilor Total Compensation Proposed
NC Councilor Total Compensation
North Carolina City/County
Council Member Current Annual
Stipend
Council Member Annual Expense
Allowance
Council Member Annual Auto Allowance
Council Member Annual Technology
Allowance
Council Member Total
Compensation
Charlotte – NEW $32,638 $9,795 $4,776 $5,235 $52,444
Mecklenburg County $29,894 $9,233 $4,501 $4,935 $48,563
Raleigh - PROPOSED $29,848 $4,000 $2,400 $1,000 $37,248
Charlotte - CURRENT $21,015 $5,800 $4,000 $3,100 $33,915
Durham County $25,417 $ ‐ $3,300 $2,100 $30,817
Wake County $24,315 $ ‐ $3,000 $300 $27,615
Durham $24,879 $ ‐ $2,400 $ ‐ $27,279
Winston‐Salem $18,220 $5,100 $3,900 $ ‐ $27,220
Forsyth County $27,012 $ ‐ $ ‐ IPad/Cell phone $27,012
Greensboro $23,377 $ ‐ $3,000 $ ‐ $26,377
Cary $11,493 $ ‐ $9,626 $2,460 $23,579
Guilford County $20,700 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $20,700
Raleigh - CURRENT $18,021 $ - $1,200 $504 $19,725
Fayetteville $17,779 $ ‐ $ ‐ $1,112 $18,891
New Hanover County $17,890 $ ‐ $ ‐ $900 $18,790
Wilmington $11,592 $ ‐ $4,200 $2,400 $18,192
Asheville $17,525 $ ‐ $ ‐ $ ‐ $17,525
High Point $10,800 $3,600 $ ‐ $ ‐ $14,400
Move Elections to Even Years
• Voter turnout increases substantially when local elections
are held on even years compared to those held on odd
years
• High turnout does not equate to an informed electorate
• Enhanced voter engagement is necessary
RECOMMENDATION #4
Develop & Implement Voter Engagement Program
• Reallocate savings from shifting elections to even years to fund
voter engagement
• Include voter engagement within City’s DEI & community
engagement strategy
• Direct City Manager to assign responsibility for voter
engagement strategy to specific department for accountability
• Develop/locate voter resource guide on prominent landing page
on City’s web site with cross-references throughout City’s
website & related electronic communications.
RECOMMENDATION #5
RECOMMENDATION #5 (cont.)
• Create distribution process for using GovDelivery for non-partisan
voter information tied to deadlines & important dates for local
elections (indirect benefit-more traffic to City’s website)
• Add voter engagement to City’s social media platforms by
creating a Twitter handle for Raleigh voter information
• Use GovDelivery & other City communication channels to “cross-
pollinate” social media channels
Develop & Implement Voter Engagement Program
RECOMMENDATION #5 (cont.)
• Develop & distribute a voter guide modeled on statewide judicial
races per N.C. Gen. Stat. 163-278.69
• Distribution should include the U.S. Postal Service & appropriate
electronic channels
• Promote & continue free bus service on Election Day
• Enhance interactive Council District map with information like
polling places & other information tied to voter addresses
Develop & Implement Voter Engagement Program
RECOMMENDATION #5 (cont.)
• Include link to interactive map on City’s new voter information
landing page
• Use City newsletters to provide voter information to residents
• Newsletters increase chances of reaching residents lacking
Internet service
Develop & Implement Voter Engagement Program
RECOMMENDATION #5 (cont.)
• Consider using Raleigh Community TV for candidate forums & to
otherwise inform citizens about elections
• Using Raleigh Community TV may also reach citizens that do
not have Internet access
• PSA campaign in coordination with community groups & local
businesses to encourage citizens to register and vote
Develop & Implement Voter Engagement Program
Increase Council to 9 by Adding 1 District Seat
• No clear national approach to council size
• Odd number avoids deadlocks & facilitates efficient policy
development
• Minimizes impact on City Manager
• 9 falls between the average size of the NC peer cities (7.9
members) & national peer cities (10.4 members)
• District Councilor has lower financial barrier to entry, so more
likely to attract diverse, non-traditional candidates
RECOMMENDATION #6
Questions?
Thank you!