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Raise Puts Rockville Council Among Highest Paid in Md.
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Hoffmann is the only council member who holds a full-time job in addition to serving.
Giammo, who works part time as a self-employed management consultant and who was reelected for his third two-year term, said elected officials face many demands. He said he averages 20 to 25 hours a week on city business.
"Some weeks in August I work five or seven hours. Some weeks in Annapolis, where I'm lobbying, I'll put in 60 hours," he said.
He wants to ensure that more people in Rockville have the opportunity to run for office, he said.
"We've actually had conversations with some very bright, capable people who would make very effective City Council members or mayors who said they literally cannot afford it," Giammo said.
Last year, Gaithersburg, which has a population of 58,091, also increased the salaries of its elected officials based on an advisory committee's recommendations. The mayor is paid $12,500 and council members earn $10,000.
"Obviously you don't do it for the money; you do it for many, many other reasons," said Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz.
Over the years, municipalities have slowly, but steadily, raised the salaries of their elected officials, said James Peck, a researcher with the Maryland Municipal League. "Rockville has frequently been a model for other municipalities, a very professional operation. I suspect strongly that they get their money's worth from both their elected and appointed officials," he said.
