Santa Clarita City Councilman TimBen Boydston will be addressing fellow council members as a private citizen regarding the city’s two-tiered health care plan at Tuesday night’s meeting at City Hall.
An $800-per-month discrepancy in benefits between what Boydston takes home compared to his fellow council members are part of the issue — but it’s also about fairness, he said.
“I wanted (the pay issue) agendized because I wanted the council to have the opportunity to rectify this,” Boydston said. “My main issue with this is that all of the council people are equal representatives, and they should get equal compensation.”
Boydston also said if the issue was in regard to cutting costs for the city, then City Councilman Bob Kellar — who was re-elected to a consecutive term at the same time as Boydston, should also be affected by the change in policy.
Kellar said he anticipated a discussion on the issue at tonight’s meeting, but said he did not want to comment on the issue until it was brought before the council.
There was a change in policy made by the council in 2011 in regard to health care, Kellar said, which is mentioned in the agenda item. The council will be voting on a recommendation by city staff that the city keep its two-tiered health plan.
Employees hired prior to Jan. 1, 2011, are eligible for a “cafeteria-style” plan that allows an employee to pick and choose his or her benefits up to approximately $1,000 per month, according to city documents. Those hired after Jan. 1, 2011 are eligible for approximately $200 per month.