YUCCA VALLEY, CA- Looks like Yucca Valley Town Council members will not be getting COLA adjustments anytime soon, as the council voted 3/2 on Tuesday to not approve raises of five percent to town council member salaries.

Councilman Bill Neeb supported the proposed raises, which would have upped the monthly salary to $538.72 and would increase annually. “When towns incorporate, they start at $300. I think this five percent is money well spent,” he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Lori Herbel agreed with Neeb, saying, “For future councils, this is important. This will not make nor break me.”

Councilman Frank Luckino voiced an opposition against any raises. He stated, “I’m not going to support this. It’s a big no-no.” And Mayor Chad Mayes agreed, saying “I have not supported a pay increase. For me, I sense that it’s a conflict of interest. I philosophically oppose it.”

And with that, Mayor Mayes, Luckino and Councilman George Huntington opposed, while Herbel and Neeb favored.

In other town council news, members voted to approve the Community Development Block Grant for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. Many members of the community spoke out during public comments pleading with Council to allocate funding for their causes, ranging from Domestic Violence shelters to Desert ARC, which supports developmentally challenged persons. It was recommended that the town’s allocation of $147,023 be applied to the Community Center Playground and Splash Park project and to direct staff to redirect the additional anticipated revenues in the upcoming year’s budget proposal.

Plus, discussion for the Pomona First Federal building (now abandoned) will be on hold until the next meeting.