Camden Mayor Charlotte Young took a moment at Tuesday night's City Council meeting to address concerns a resident had in regards to Young's campaign promise to donate 20% of her mayoral salary.
A December 5, 2022 Facebook post from Young's 'Charlotte For Camden' account stated, "If I'm blessed to be your next mayor, my first act will be to cut my own salary by 20%."
During audience participation Tuesday, a concerned citizen raised the question of whether Mayor Young had in fact cut her salary and given the money back to the city.
Young stated, "I'd like to address some questions, and that's regarding my salary while running for mayor. Yes, you did hear me state about giving back from my salary. I also stated I'd use funds to help clean up, to rebuild our community. The law permits me to request that my salary be reduced during my term in office. I decided the better way to give back to my community is to use what I give back on my salary to give in different ways throughout the whole community."
She stated that until recently, she had driven her own personal vehicle and paid for her own gas.
"I refused any reimbursement for vehicle usage," Young stated.
She also stated that she has given donations to First Friday and the Plant a Seed foundations, with the first to encourage tourism and the second donation for the work Plant a Seed does with youth.
"If it wasn't for our citizens, we wouldn't have a city. We have to invest in our young people," she stated.
Young also noted that she buys city supplies, like tape to mark broken light poles, out of her own money.
Young said, "Nothing says I have to give a certain amount back on a certain week because there may be projects coming up that I want to give more to."
City Attorney Michael Frey told the Camden News, "The council sets the mayor's salary in the budget. Further, the council may raise, but not lower, an official's salary during the term, unless requested by the official. There is not a way to 'deduct' a portion of the mayor's salary for a donation. The mayor has to receive the full amount set in the budget, and then the mayor may choose to donate to causes as she sees fit. But she first receives the entire amount as salary income, regardless of whether she decides to make donations."
"There is no legal provision to require an elected official to donate to any specific cause, including the city... Once the salary is paid, the city has no more involvement in her personal finances," he continued.