The Dirty Details on the 48% Raise for County Supervisors

by Andy Caldwell

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, County Supervisors Steve Lavagnino, Bob Nelson, Joan Hartmann, Laura Capps, and Roy Lee will consider giving themselves a 48% raise worth $56,000 per year, for an annual salary of $171,000. The justification for the obscene raise is to keep up with the salaries of the largest counties in the state, as well as a percentage of the salaries of superior court judges. Lost in all this is the fact that the position of county supervisor was never meant to be a “good-paying job”; it was meant to be a sacrifice of public service rather than self-service. Currently, supervisors earn around $115,000 per year, which is more than ample considering it is not a full-time job.

Furthermore, if the supervisors go through with this raise, they will be making significantly more than our state assembly and senate members ($132,000) and they will be receiving nearly the same pay as our U.S. Senators and members of the House of Representatives ($174,000), all of whom represent many more constituents than do county sups.

The supervisors take umbrage with the contention their work is part-time, even though the proposed 48% raise is an outrage even if they do work full time. Nevertheless, the core function of their job – the one thing they were elected to do – is their Tuesday board meetings that occur, on average, three times per month. During the weeks they meet, they do likely work full time. However, in addition to taking off every fourth Tuesday of the month, they also take off for four weeks every summer, two weeks at Christmas, one week for Thanksgiving, and all major holidays. That means they don’t have meetings for the equivalent of four months per year.

Sounds part-time to me, but don’t take my word for it. Former County Supervisors Brooks Firestone and Mike Stoker agree it is not a full-time job. Here is what Brooks Firestone had to say:

“Andy,

“As a retired Supervisor I am opposed to the substantial raise proposed by the Supervisors. This position is a part time occupation that should be a public service and not a lucrative career.”

Gripping and Grinning Costs Taxpayers $1,500,000 for Five Supes

Furthermore, you must consider that much of the “work” of a supervisor is by design, not necessity. After all, they are politicians. That is, much of their work is the result of their unwillingness to simplify land-use codes, thereby creating myriad hearings, appeals, and lawsuits regarding development of any kind. They also spend a lot of time “gripping and grinning” – that is, “working” – to see and be seen, which is really nothing less than a form of campaigning. For instance, they attend many community events and non-profit fundraisers to rub elbows, not because they have “work” to do there.

But that is not the worst of it. The dirty little secret of most county supervisors? They hire their former campaign manager as their chief of staff. That way, they can keep them gainfully employed with a six-figure salary in between campaign cycles. Then, of course, when it is time to run for reelection, both the sup and the executive assistant will work nearly full-time campaigning. Do you want to pay them $85 an hour to ride in a parade, to grip and grin, to see and be seen? Should we pay them when they are campaigning?

Drop Off a Letter and/or Send an E-Mail

Californians are numb to the fact that too many of our electeds comprise a highly paid professional class of politicians (it is not that way in most other states). They go from one office to another because being a politician is their career choice, which becomes more about power, control, and influence, rather than public service. Yet, who can say that the CA professional political class is doing a good job running this state at any level of government? It is not by accident that we are mired in debt, bloat, failing infrastructure, regulatory red-tape, hazards such as fires and floods that are abated elsewhere, and the highest living expenses in the country, including for housing, water, electricity, and fuel. All these problems are the result of policy failures. Moreover, in the last ten years, 576 CA politicians have been convicted on federal corruption charges!

For all these reasons, please voice your opposition to the 48% raise by contacting these county supervisors before Feb. 25:

Supervisor Roy Lee at: roylee@countyofsb.org

Supervisor Laura Capps at: lcapps@countyofsb.org

Supervisor Joan Hartmann at: jhartmann@countyofsb.org

Supervisor Bob Nelson at: Bob.Nelson@countyofsb.org

Supervisor Steve Lavagnino at: steve.lavagnino@countyofsb.org

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Dear SB Current Readers,

Andy Caldwell has tirelessly worked to expose an outrageous, self-serving money grab by the Santa Barbara County Supervisors. This Tuesday, February 25th, they plan to vote themselves a staggering 48.8% taxpayer-funded salary increase—nearly half again what they already earn! Are you able to snap your fingers and get a raise like that, or are you stuck navigating the real world?

Andy has laid out the facts and provided the emails (above) so you can contact your Supervisor directly and make your voice heard. Please do it. In addition, if you can take off work, please show up in person this Tuesday, February 25th, by 1:15 p.m. on the fourth floor of 105 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Grab a speaker’s slip and let them know where you stand.

Far too many elected officials prioritize their own interests over public service, but this is your money they’re pocketing. It’s time to stop tolerating it. Now is the moment to act.

Jim Buckley

Editor-in-Chief

James Fenkner

Publisher, SBCurrent

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( As far as we can tell, the Santa Barbara Republican Party is the only political party in our county that is taking a stand against these obscene pay increases made by (and for) elected officials. And the Republicans are also providing a logical framework for fair, rather than predatory, elected official pay. In short, pay the elected officials based solely on what their own constituents make. Will the voters ever catch on to whom is fighting for taxpayers interests and who is fighting against them? - JF)

SB GOP Resolution on Elected Officials' Compensation in Santa Barbara County

WHEREAS, the spirit of Abraham Lincoln's government "Of the People, By the People, For the People" has been compromised in Santa Barbara with nearly all elected officials earning far more in salary and benefits than those whom they were elected to serve.

WHEREAS, each Santa Barbara County Supervisor receives a total annual taxpayer funded salary and benefits of $160,000 a year, significantly higher than the median household income of $102,000 and nearly double our County’s per capital personal income of $83,000.

WHEREAS, true representation requires elected officials to live within the economic realities of their constituents, not as overlords with taxpayer funded pay and compensation packages in excess of their constituents..

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County, by not advocating for their own pay reductions to match the median income of those they serve, demonstrates a disconnect from the core principle of public service, i.e. service above self;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the government of Santa Barbara County must realign its compensation for elected officials to reflect the median income of its residents, ensuring that our government truly represents "of, by, and for the people" by living under, not over, the same financial conditions as those they govern.

Adopted February 19, 2025

Santa Barbara County Republican Party

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