Raising your own salary is never a good look.
But it’s something we task many elected decision-making bodies with, from city councils and community services districts to boards of supervisors and sometimes even the Legislature—although not in California. In California, our legislators’ salaries are determined by an independent commission.
I bet that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors was wishing that an independent commission was making the decision about its members’ salaries on Feb. 25. Instead, they had to do it. And they did do it. They raised their own pay by 48 percent.
Not a good look. But there were many reasons for it, including that they make 35 percent less than their peers in other similar counties. I’m not defending the decision; I’m just offering some facts.
Which is more than I can say for the great North County screecher, Andy Caldwell of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business (COLAB). I’m surprised he didn’t bring a pitchfork to the meeting!
In newsletters, on the radio, in social media posts, and in commentaries, Caldwell yelled his objections into the Santa Barbara County atmosphere to anyone who would listen: Supervisors work part time, do more campaigning than constituent work, and are serving their own personal interests.
“They can work as much or as little as they want,” he wrote.
His rhetoric struck a chord, as 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps put it. Apparently, supervisors received a lot of emails about the raises: “Most of what they wrote were based on things that were not true at all,” Capps said.
The people berating them had no idea what a supervisor’s job position was, 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said.
That’s sad. And Caldwell decided it was time to pounce with some carefully chosen disinformation.
Raising salaries from $115,000 to $171,000 per year should raise eyebrows. It’s a lot of dollars.
I don’t think you need to tell everyone that supervisors work “part time” to insist that residents oppose a $48,000 a year raise. All you really have to do is look at the number. It’s large. The conversation should be focused on whether it’s warranted—not on false statements intended to belittle and anger.
Why tell tall tales? Why rile up a base around something that’s misleading at best, as Lavagnino put it? And outright lying at worst (I’m putting it that way).
Caldwell does love to scream into the void and pat himself on the back. So maybe that’s it: ego. Always a great way to lead, amirite?
What’s interesting about all of his screaming is that—as public commenter Scott Fina said—Caldwell makes more than the supervisors do.
For a nonprofit that brings in an average of roughly $500,000 a year in revenue, according to Form 990s, it sure pays its executive (Caldwell) a lot. His compensation jumped from more than $150,000 per year to more than $200,000 a year in fiscal year 2023.
I’m not saying he only works part time or that he’s corrupt or does a lot of gripping and grinning. But it’s interesting.
And again, focus on the important salary question: Is it warranted?
The Canary is the great North County chirper. Send birdseed to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 6-16, 2025.
