Thursday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a boost to their annual automobile allowances. Update: I’m an idiot. The supervisors did this on Tuesday not Thursday.
Those supervisors in the three smallest districts had been receiving $8,208. The other two, Dianne Jacob and Bill Horn, who represent immense districts, pulled higher allowances.
They voted – without discussion – to unanimously to raise that allowance to an even $12,000 a year for everyone.
That’s all you’d know if you’d read, say, the Union-Tribune.
But you, loyal readers, don’t limit yourselves.
Turns out the supervisors, by boosting their car allowances, also boosted their future pensions as well. Brian White, CEO of the county’s pension system, confirmed for me that the car allowance is considered part of the supervisors’ salary when retirement officials calculate their pensions. So, the little $3,200-$3,800 car-allowance boost raised the supervisors’ annual pensions from between $1,500 to $1,800 for the rest of their lives.
I’ve done my math and checked it twice and here’s a list of how the much each supervisor boosted their own future annual pensions by approving a seemingly small car allowance (assuming they complete their current terms in office).
- Dianne Jacob: $1,532/year
- Ron Roberts: $1,820/year
- Pam Slater Price: $1,820/year
- Bill Horn: $1,532/year
- Greg Cox: $1,820/year
If you think that’s nice for the supervisors wait a few minutes. I’m doing more math. The supervisors got a surprise from their friends in the legislature.