Study Group Final Report

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


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



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


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


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


Raleigh - PROPOSED $36,511 $6,000 $2,400 $1,000 $45,911


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


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


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


Raleigh - PROPOSED $29,848 $4,000 $2,400 $1,000 $37,248


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


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 & 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



• 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



• 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


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!

Documents

Study Group Final Report