Gainesville civil servants have their own motivations for public work, but money is not one of them.
For the most part, it's a love for the job that keeps civil servants coming back for more.
Gainesville City Commissioner Jeanna Mastrodicasa said she does not do her job for money but to contribute to the community. As a city commissioner, Mastrodicasa makes an annual salary of $30,929.12.
"I really enjoy helping make good decisions for Gainesville," she said. "And I learn a lot, I think that's the best part."
Of the six city commissioners, Mastrodicasa said Commissioner Craig Lowe is the only full-time commissioner.
The five others, including herself, hold other jobs.
Aside from the near 30 hours per week Mastrodicasa works as a city commissioner, she is also an assistant vice president of student affairs at UF where her annual salary is $81,600.
Mastrodicasa said Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, who makes an annual salary of $39,364.36 for her duties as mayor, is also a consultant to the Trust for Public Land in their Conservation Finance Program.
According to the University Police, the base pay of a beginning UPD officer is $17.04 an hour.
With 2,088 hours in a year, the salary of a starting officer is $35,579.52, UPD spokesman Capt. Jeff Holcomb said.
With 283 sworn officers, the base pay for a starting Gainesville Police Department officer varies, said Lt. Allan Willis.
If the officer has only a high school education and no experience, the annual salary would start at $41,116.61.
Willis said if the officer has a college degree and law enforcement experience, the starting salary would begin at $46,519.62.
Senior Library Manager Be Astengo said the pay of those who work in the Alachua County library system is modest, starting with a base pay of $26,557.65.
Library assistant was the first job Astengo held at the Alachua County library when she was hired 18 years ago. Now, the starting salary for her position is $47,693.57, according to the Alachua County Web site.
Astengo said she got her master's degree in education from UF, but after working for a library in the children's department she changed her career.
It was all the fun she hoped for in teaching without the stress, she said.
Astengo then successfully pursued her master's degree in library science from USF.
"People who go into things like teaching, social work and libraries do it for the helping aspect," she said. "I loved my job immediately. It's stimulating, challenging and not as easy as it looks."
