Downtown Development Chief Gets a Raise

The eight-member board of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously to endorse a pay raise for its executive director.

Dave Gustafson will receive an annual salary of $75,000, after a $3,000 pay raise. 

The raise comes after some successes by the authority. It follows the authority reaching a developer agreement to rehabilitate the Manatee Riverside Hotel (a.k.a., the “Pink Palace”) last month. There also is ongoing improvements of the Riverwalk linear park. Both are long-term goals of the authority.

The raise for Gustafson was tied to terms of his contract. When Gustafson was hired six months ago, the contract stated he would recieve a $3,000 raise at the end of six months’ satisfactory service.

“It is not a merit raise,” said Greg Green, the chairman of the authority. “It is part of the original deal and salary structure at the time the deal was made.”