- April 20, 2024
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Ormond Beach's city manager and city attorney might find themselves with a salary adjustment to make up for two years of no raises as other city employees received steady 2% bumps.
The City Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to increase City Manager Joyce Shanahan's salary by 8% and City Attorney Randy Hayes' salary by 12%. The figures were discussed during the Oct. 17 Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, and will be brought back for for discussion at the next meeting on Nov. 7.
“This item for some individuals is uncomfortable," City Commissioner Troy Kent said. "It never is for me.”
Kent said the city was fortunate to have both Shanahan and Hayes, and over the eight and 24 years each respectively have dedicated to their jobs, he's never had a major problem with them. He defended adjusting Shanahan's salary by a little over $11,000 and Hayes' by about $25,000 by referencing back to their approval ratings, where both got near-perfect scores.
As of now, Shanahan's salary is $143,908, falling somewhere in between what other Volusia County city managers make.
The city manager of DeLand's salary is $157,082, with a city population of about 31,569. Port Orange has an estimated population of 61,105 and their city manager makes $140,000 a year. Daytona Beach's city manager's salary is the highest at 213,497, with a population of about 66,645.
As for Hayes, his current salary is on the lower end of the spectrum when compared to the city attorneys in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, whose salaries are $183,750 and $213,242. Port Orange's city attorney also has a lower salary, making $123,000 a year.
Kent said at the city commission meeting he believed Shanahan and Hayes were both "grossly underpaid."
“Anybody that knows these two individuals knows the caliber of individuals and the quality of work they give this city,” he said.
While the other commissioners were on board with giving Shanahan an 8% bump, Kent's proposed 20% salary increase for Hayes was met with some hesitance.
City Commissioner Rob Littleton voiced his unease out loud and said he wasn't comfortable giving Hayes a salary adjustment that was much higher than Shanahan's. With Kent's proposal, the city manager's salary would be bumped up to $155,000 and Hayes would be adjusted to $150,000.
City Commissioner Rick Boehm was also conflicted about giving Hayes a 20% raise, but did say Kent's figures could be justified.
"They never complained about what they’re getting paid," Boehm said. "They never complained about, 'they got a zero'. They took the zero and kept doing the job they’ve been doing."
Mayor Bill Partington suggested a 12% bump for Hayes instead, to which Kent replied by questioning whether the City Commission was doing half this year and half the next in order for it to look better on paper. He said he wanted to right by the city attorney and that he could defend the large adjustment by his work. He also said the City Commission adjusted the salaries of the police department a few years back and many of the salaries received a large percentage bump.
Kent said if the other city commissioners agreed Hayes' salary should be $150,000 that they should do it all at once.
“If you don’t think that, I get it," Kent said. "If you think it should be at $142,000, OK. I disagree with you, but I’ll vote for it because it’s the right thing to do—he’s underpaid, and once we do it at $142,000 I’ll walk out of here thinking he’s still underpaid.”
In the end, the City Commission went with Partington's 12% salary adjustment for Hayes.
“Deputy Mayor, I know we’re not quite to where you want it to be, but it’s a start," Partington said.
