Wouldn't if be nice if the next time you did a terrible job at work, crashed your company car, and hospitalized two people, your boss gave you $10,000 and a 2.5% pay bump?
How would you like to make $120,347 a year, and only work a maximum of 85 days?
Look no further than the Prince George's County Council!
At the end of January, the Prince George's County Compensation Review Board (which is appointed by the council itself), unveiled it's plan for pay increases for the next County Council term. The plan would take effect after November's elections, unless 2/3rds of the Council votes against it.
But, let's be honest: would you vote against giving yourself $10,000 and a 2.5% pay increase?
The decision comes after County Council member, Mel R. Franklin, totaled a county-owned vehicle while driving drunk in 2016. Franklin injured two people, and pled guilty to a DUI - for his crimes he received a PBJ (Probation Before Judgement) and a $645 fine.
Mel Franklin's county-issued vehicle following his DUI
At a time when many families are struggling to put food on the table, Prince George's County tax-payers have shelled out thousands to fix county-owned vehicles, that council members have crashed while driving for non-official purposes. Between 2011 and 2016, council members were involved in at least 15 collisions, and received 107 speeding, missed-toll and parking citations.
The 2017 standard reimbursement for mileage is 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven. Prince George's County Council members are given $10,000 a year for travel allowances, or a county-issued (and maintained) vehicle. Every year, council members participate in 20 legislative days, 20 business days, and a maximum of 45 additional legislative days - for a total of 85 possible work days per year.
Using the 2017 mileage reimbursement rates, with a $10,000 payment and the maximum number of work days (85), council members could drive up to 220 miles round trip to every meeting. The furthest distance that a council member has to drive? 30 miles each way.
Arelis Hernandez, of The Washington Post, has found that Prince George's is the only local government in the metropolitan region to offer these privileges, which cost more than $110,000 annually in taxpayer money.
If the County Council moved to a mileage-reimbursement program, it would save Prince George's County tax-payers almost $100,000 annually.
While Council members have until April 30th to vote against the salary increases, it is unlikely that they will do so. The Prince George's County Council has a history of promoting developers' interests, and the promotion of their own careers, above the needs of their constituents, with the creation of two at-large positions (to circumvent term-limits) and countless pay-to-play scandals.
It is time that Prince George's County residents hold council-members' feet to the fire, and demand accountability.
Mary A. Lehman (D), District 1 - Laurel: 30 miles away
Deni Taveras (D), District 2 - Adelphi: 24 miles away
Dannielle M. Glaros (D), Vice-Chair, District 3 - Riverdale: 18 miles away
Todd M. Turner (D), District 4 - Bowie: 11 miles away
Andrea Harrison (D), District 5 - Upper Marlboro: 12 miles
Derrick Leon Davis (D), Chair, District 6 - Upper Marlboro: 3.5 miles
Karen R. Toles (D), District 7 - Suitland: 11 miles
Obie Patterson (D), District 8 - Fort Washington: 23 miles
Mel Franklin (D), District 9 - Upper Marlboro: 7 miles
