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Naples City Councilman Bill Willkomm wants a raise.

He knew when he was sworn into office his city salary wouldn’t be enough to retire on, but he also didn’t think he’d be volunteering.

Daily News file

Bill Willkomm

That’s what the councilman equivocates his $16,500 a year salary to.

“I didn’t go into politics to do volunteer work,” he said. “I am worth more. This is affecting my ability to earn a living.”

During the Oct. 3 meeting of the Naples City Council, Willkomm asked council to look into whether council members can receive a raise. On Monday, council will discuss whether they should form a Blue Ribbon committee to look into council’s compensation package.

Naples City Council members make $16,500 a year, regardless of how long they have been serving. Mayor Bill Barnett makes $23,500 a year.

All of the members of council are able to buy into the city’s health insurance policy, city Human Resources Director Denise Perez said.

Council last received a raise on Feb. 8, 2006, Perez said.

Naples City Council members make more than their counterparts in both Marco Island and Bonita Springs.

On Marco Island, the city charter prohibits council to receive a pay increase without changing the charter. For the past 10 years, council members have made $6,000 a year; the council chairman receives $9,000 a year.

Marco Island City Clerk Laura Litzan said the city has brought a pay increase to the voters once before. Marco Island residents voted down the referendum.

In Bonita Springs, the council receives an annual cost-of-living increase each October, said Jennifer Dorta, the deputy city clerk for Human Resources.

Bonita Springs council members just received a 2.7 percent raise Oct. 1, bumping the council salary up to $16,453 a year. Bonita Springs Mayor Jay Arend earns $21,937 a year.

The city also pays for the council’s health benefits, and allows council members to pay a percentage of the cost to enroll their family members, Dorta said.

In order to receive a pay increase, the Naples City Council first must form a Blue Ribbon committee to look into the matter. The committee is made up of seven Naples residents. Once formed, the committee then weighs the cost of living and the salary of similar communities, Perez said.

According to minutes from the March 24, 2004, Blue Ribbon committee meeting, committee members asked that salaries “should not necessarily be a financial incentive to serve on council, but definitely not a financial disincentive to preclude people from serving on council.”

Willkomm said he spends about two weeks each month working exclusively on city business. In addition to serving on City Council, Willkomm said he serves on five committees which meet throughout the month.

The Naples City Council meets four times a month, not including any special meetings.

While Barnett wouldn’t say whether he supported a pay increase, he did say he was eager to see where it goes.

“I think we were all in shock,” Barnett said. “But I don’t think (calling) a Blue Ribbon panel is a bad idea.”

According to a city ordinance, the committee needs to make a salary recommendation no later than three months prior to the next election.

Naples council elections are scheduled to take place on Jan. 29, 2008.

Councilman Gary Price said he wouldn’t support a pay increase, especially in a time when municipalities are pinching pennies to make ends meet.

“I’ve always believed my role as a city councilman is a commitment in a volunteer type of role,” he said. “For me it isn’t about the money, I get a great satisfaction with the giving of my time. I do this because it’s something I have a passion for.”

Litzan said Marco Island founders took the same perspective when setting its pay scale.

“This was perceived as being a voluntary, rather than paid, job,” she said. “There’s not one perk, there are no benefits, (and) they put in lots and lots of hours.”

Councilwoman Penny Taylor said the amount of time she spends on city business varies from day to day.

“It’s at least 20 hours a week, sometimes more,” she said. “It all depends on the issues. Politics are not a constant.”

Taylor said she was surprised that the issue of an increase was brought up, especially since council just received a raise two years ago. And while she said she’d like to see some changes, she said she’d rather see some sort of compensation package added for retiring council members.

Council is scheduled to discuss forming a Blue Ribbon committee during Monday’s workshop meeting.