According to Sunnyvale Community Officer John Pilger, four former council members are currently receiving these benefits. The benefits to the four range from $7,000 to $11,000 annually, costing the city a maximum of $44,000 a year.

Pilger said council members become eligible for benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System. To be eligible, an individual council member or employee must serve the city for five years and be 50 years old or be within 120 days of their 50th birthday when they retire.

Those in upper-city management receive lifetime medical, dental and vision benefits for themselves, their spouse and any dependent children. Council members only receive lifetime benefits for themselves, and must pay the difference for their spouse or children. Non-management staff receive are given just over $4,000 a year to put toward benefits.

Pilger said the actual payments vary from person to person depending on the size of their family and the plan they select.

Councilman John Howe and Housing and Human Services Commissioner Nancy Smith--running against one another for city council Seat 3--have both said that the benefits should not be offered until the city is back in better economic waters.

"It's a good perk, but it does cost the taxpayers money, and I definitely think we should forego it until better economic times," Smith said. "As a council member, you enjoy certain perks already, and I would be willing to forego it if I were on the council."

Smith is 42 years old, so if she were to be elected and served five years, she would be eligible for benefits upon retirement from the council. Howe will become eligible for benefits if he serves one more year, having already completed a four-year term.

Howe said he would like to see the city continue to offer benefits to council members while they serve because it can make the position more attractive to Sunnyvale residents.

"I would hate to see us exclude someone for economic reasons because they would have to give up health benefits to serve on the council," Howe said, pointing out that the council can--at times--make working a full-time job difficult.

Howe said he would not need the benefits if they were offered to him because he has health coverage from his full-time career as a Realtor. Smith said she is covered as well, and would not ask taxpayers to pay for her benefits if she won a seat on the council.