4530596 Resolution 20-251, “Chief Financial Officer Compensation Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2013”

a resolution

20-251

In the Council of the District of Columbia

July 10, 2013

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to authorize the Council to establish the rate of pay for the Chief Financial Officer; and to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to set a new rate of pay.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Chief Financial Officer Compensation Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2013”.

 

Sec. 2.  (a)  The District of Columbia Home Rule Act,  D.C. Official Code § 1-204.24b(b)(5), provides that that the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) is to be compensated at “an annual rate equal to the rate of basic pay payable for level I of the Executive Schedule”. That compensation currently caps the salary of the CFO at $179,096.

(b)  The District of Columbia Department of the Human Resources conducted a review of compensation rates for chief financial officers in other jurisdictions, and, based on that review, determined that the current salary cap for the CFO falls short of the compensation received by like positions in other cities.

(c)  Likewise, the search committee appointed by Mayor Gray to identify a replacement for retiring CFO Natwar Gandhi has noted difficulty in recruiting suitable candidates for the position of CFO because the compensation is not comparable to similar positions elsewhere.

(d)  In order to provide for a more competitive compensation package for the CFO, the Council sought to clarify that the provision in the Home Rule Act regarding pay was intended to provide a floor, not a ceiling, on CFO compensation. See section 211 of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request Act of 2013, passed on 1^st and final reading on May 26, 2013 (Enrolled version of Bill 20-198).  The proposed amendment, modifying the Home Rule Act and so requiring Congressional approval, would insert the phrase “at least” in the provision setting the CFO salary.

(e)  In moving this emergency measure, the Council makes its intent clear to potential candidates for the CFO position that it intends to provide a more competitive compensation package for the CFO.  As the change requires Congressional enactment, the emergency measure includes a provision that would require the Secretary to the Council to transmit the approved emergency bill to Congress.

(f)  The emergency and temporary bills both allow for a total compensation for the CFO of up to $250,000.  This provides greater latitude for the CFO search committee in recruiting candidates for the position.  The permanent bill, introduced simultaneously with the emergency measure, will set a firm salary by District statute as is appropriate for the position. 

 

Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Chief Financial Officer Compensation Emergency Amendment Act of 2013 be adopted after a single reading.

                                                                                                       

Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.