The Board of Directors of the City of Riviera Beach Utility Special District (USD) approved as compensation a $1,000 per month stipend for each member serving on the USD Board and the Mayor as an Ex-Officio member commencing in October 2015 through Resolution No. 13-15UD dated August 31, 2015.  The compensation of stipend is not mandatory and the City Attorney requested each Board member individually accept or reject same by way of written authorization.

During the annual operating budget process, the payment of stipend is budgeted for those board members who have individually accepted such compensation by way of written authorization. 

Recently the City Attorney opined that the written authorization was not an arrangement of the resolution and not a requirement to receive compensation, therefore, determining that the stipend should be paid retroactive from date of approval, beginning October 2015 to each board member who had not previously elected to reject said stipend. A payment for retroactive stipend was made to the USD Board member on March 27, 2017 for a total cost of $26,571, to cover the period from October 23, 2015 to March 24, 2017. Total payment includes payroll taxes, FICA, and Employer FRS contributions and said payment places the stipend budget in a deficit position.

After adoption of the FY17 budget one Board Member accepted the stipend.