Charter Review Commission Moves To Give County Commissioners $60,000 Raise

If Approved By Voters The Measure Would Nearly Triple Their Salary

Every four years, a Charter Review Commission convenes to determine if any changes are needed to our county’s founding document. One of the main topics for the past two commissions has been the pay of our elected County Commissioners.

This year, despite past initiatives failing every time, the Charter Review Commission has decided to go big or go home. The commission discussed a variety of options during their December 15th meeting, with salary increases ranging from $40,000 to $60,000. The county charter currently limits the commissioner's salaries to $38,000 per year.

At the forefront of the effort for more cash was none other than County Commissioner Jim Renninger. He told the commission that some qualified people want to “come here to be county commissioners,” but can’t afford to do so because of the current salary, which has been capped at the current rate for over a decade.

Reninger also said that “good people” would only run for the office if given more money. The Board of County Commissioners has a history of looking down on some county residents. Former Commissioner Wayne Bolla was once asked about the home affordability crisis and said, “The sort of people we want in Clay County can afford to live here.” Earlier this year, current Commissioner John Sgromolo claimed anyone who questioned the Sheriff’s office budget was in favor of “defunding the police.”

County Budget Strained By Increased Spending

It is worth noting that the members of the Charter Review Commission are appointed by the County Commissioners, the very same people who would benefit from the doubling of their salaries.

Commission Member Kurt Musser proposed being “creative” with the wording to fool voters into not noticing the size of the increase. He also suggested just getting rid of the section of the charter dealing with commissioner pay. Musser was appointed to the commission by John Sgromolo.

Reninger appointee Yul McNair was especially vocal in support of the pay increase.

Ultimately, a motion was made to “align the commissioner salaries to state law,” setting the salary at $98,000 per year. The commission also decided to use ballot language that made it less clear to voters that a substantial raise was being granted. The change would be called an “adjustment,” rather than a “raise.”

The Charter Review Commission consists of 15 members and five alternates. Three members per county commissioner district and one alternate member per district. Prominent members of this year’s commission include Clay Republican Party Chair Rhonda Jett, teacher and former candidate for School Board Matthew Mitchell, and former Green Cove Springs City Councilman Van Royal.

Mitchell was the lone “no” vote on the commission, noting that the commissioners are well respected and do good work, but a raise in the face of future budget uncertainty was premature. If approved, the measure would cost taxpayers an additional $250,000 per year.

A poll was posted in the Clay County Pulse Facebook group asking whether people would vote for the lesser of the options discussed: a $40,000 raise. The respondents overwhelmingly voted “No.” Current Commissioner Kristen Burke was one of the few “Yes” votes in the poll.

The next meeting of the commission is scheduled for January 12th, 2026. Every meeting has a public comments section wherein citizens can speak to the commission.