C.R. council should take on more accountability

Last time we had an election for city council, none of us knew a disaster was coming. But the flood has changed many things.

Our part-time council members have nobly served many more hours than planned, and the compensation of $15,000 is not adequate for the overwhelming responsibilities they face.

Instead of asking for more compensation, our council members have clouded their accountability for the increased responsibilities by deferring to consultants and by increasing the city manager's budget.

As voters and taxpayers, we could ask for more accountability if each council seat was allotted an increase in compensation in the form of a set budget. Council members who need to remain less than full time could designate the balance of this budget to pay for personal staff time. Together, the part-time council member and his or her staff person would provide a full-time commitment and, most importantly, a corresponding level of full-time accountability along with the courage that comes with having done one's best with the overwhelming amount of homework.

The source for this increase in pay could come from a reduction in either the millions spent on consultants and/or a reduction in the expanded budget of the city manager's office. Compared to these two parts of the huge recovery budget, this increase in compensation is relatively small.

If you like this plan for making an investment in increased accountability, please let both the candidates and the council members know.

Clark Rieke

Cedar Rapids