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Councilman's Raise To Fund Scholarship

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - In January, when city council members talked about making themselves the highest-paid elected municipal officials in Pasco County, Councilman Danny Burgess spoke against it.

He vowed that, if the $1,200 pay raise went through, he would give his to a local charity.

Now, Burgess says he would like to start a leadership scholarship at his alma mater, Zephyrhills High School, with that extra cash.

'I want to give it to a student who doesn't have all the money in the world already,' Burgess said. 'My main focus is to find a good student who's a good leader but, at the same time, someone who's not already set with a full ride to Harvard or Yale or wherever.'

Previously, Burgess said he would give the money to Community Aging & Retirement Services or to the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans organization. Tuesday, he said he would put $1,000 toward the scholarship and give $100 each to CARES and the veterans group.
Burgess has not yet ironed out the details of the scholarship but said he plans to do so by March, when the second installment of his yearly council stipend is paid out. In September, Burgess received the first half.

This fiscal year, Burgess and some of his colleagues will receive $6,000. By comparison, council members in Pasco's most populous city, New Port Richey, receive $3,600 per year.

Because of Zephyrhills' charter, council members are only eligible for the increase after being re-elected. Three incumbents - Kent Compton, Clyde Bracknell and Burgess - were re-elected and qualified for the pay raise. Council members Celia Graham and Luis Lopez will earn the pay boost in 2008 if they are re-elected.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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