Atlantic Beach City Manager Kevin Hogencamp will earn $230,000 a year with a 10 percent retirement contribution as part of the compensation and benefits package approved June 22 by the City Commission.
The City Commission voted 4-1 in favor of the starting annual salary following an unconventional discussion that included a question-and-answer session with Hogencamp, the former interim city manager. Commissioner Thomas Grant cast the sole dissenting vote.
“This is cruel and unusual punishment to make Kevin beg for his contract in front of the whole city,” Commissioner Candace Kelly said. “We did not do this with any of his four predecessors and I don’t understand why we are doing this in this forum.”
Mayor Curtis Ford suggested that the discussion fell under the Sunshine Law umbrella since the commission did not authorize him to negotiate the city manager’s salary in a closed forum.
“The benefits package that is before you tonight is about 17 percent greater than the next-highest-paid employee in the organization and that is the police chief. It is about 17 percent smaller than that of the previous city manager,” Hogencamp said of his benefits package.
“While accepting a package at a smaller rate than my predecessor wasn’t expected, I do have a really good perspective about what we’re facing as an organization and community moving forward, especially the property tax challenge that may be before us. I think the agreement is proactive to address that and aligns with our mutual goal of putting the community first. It successfully insulates the city from some potential general fund revenue losses that we may experience down the road.”
Prior to the discussion, Ford disclosed that he’d previously held private negotiations with Hogencamp, and while he did not agree with the proposed figure, the decision was up to the discretion of the commission.
“I can tell you he made a very strong and compelling argument of why he should be paid what he asked to be paid and I made a compelling argument about why he shouldn’t be paid that level and so we ended up with an agreement,” Ford said.
“I’m not going to tell you that’s the agreement that I want but I’m going to tell you that we put the agreement in the agenda for this body so each of you commissioners will own this decision. This is not about the mayor. I did not make a unilateral agreement that you must approve so you’re going to have to follow your own conscience.”
Commissioner Bruce Bole called for a point of order on what he labeled a “preamble to the motion.” “I’m just trying to follow the rules,” he said.
“This is a critical decision tonight and you can very quickly end up in a vote without having a full understanding. I recognize the fact that you guys did not participate in the past two weeks other than your own due diligence. We will ask for a motion shortly,” Ford said.
“I am just going to bracket that by saying I am not promoting this agreement but I am standing by while you ask the appropriate questions and Mr. Hogencamp gives the appropriate responses.”
Following the example of legal arbitration when two parties are in disagreement, Ford said the most successful outcome happens “when both parties think they didn’t get what they wanted.” “Mr. Hogencamp believes he should get something different than what I believe,” he said.
At the direction of the mayor, Hogencamp defended his request, which he said fell below what his predecessor earned as a starting salary. Former City Manager Bill Killingsworth earned a starting rate of $218,500 with a $30,000 housing stipend embedded in the salary to fulfill the city’s residency requirements. He was making $245,000 at the time of his resignation.
“That was my big issue in my discussions with Mr. Hogencamp. We don’t have to pay him a housing allowance because he already lives here. So now we get into an issue from his perspective that it is a fairness issue,” Ford said.
“He shouldn’t be penalized because he already owns a house. We embedded a lot of money into our prior contract because the candidate was coming from out of town because he did not reside here ... We split the difference and we reduced it by $15,000 and not $30,000 and that’s why I’m saying I’m not advocating for that and I’m not advocating against that. I want this commission to decide whether it should be the same, better or worse.”
Hogencamp earned $159,000 as deputy city manager, which increased to $183,000 as interim city manager. Former Interim City Manager Joe Gerrity also had a housing allowance for his date-certain time of service.
“To that end, my established residency in this community is a strong asset. I accept this opportunity confidently, collaboratively and with keen appreciation for who I work for and who is on the top of this organizational chart here and that’s the citizens of Atlantic Beach. That’s how I’ve approached my job from day one,” Hogencamp said.
“I was working with the amount that Mr. Killingsworth was making when he left and that’s where I started, not asking for any more or less. The salary down to the penny is precisely $15,000 less than what Mr. Killingsworth was making.”
Bole urged the commission to consider the salaries of city managers in nearby municipalities: Fernandina Beach City Manager Sarah Campbell earns $235,000 with a $50,000 incentive bonus; Jacksonville Beach City Manager Mike Staffopoulos earns $224,000 a year; and Neptune Beach City Manager Richard Pike earns $164,000 a year. He also expressed concern over Hogencamp’s ability to sell back more than 200 PTO hours accrued as deputy city manager.
“That’s a significant amount of money. Kevin has saved us some money and I think he has a plan. I think we look at ourselves as a governing body but we also have to look at ourselves as a business. If you look at this and his salary, and whether you agree with it or not, it is comparable to a city of the size we have and some of the unique problems that we have. I support the resolution as stated,” Bole said.
By appointing Hogencamp to fill the permanent position vacated by Killingsworth, Atlantic Beach banked significant funds earmarked for a nationwide executive search to canvass for a suitable replacement. Killingsworth abruptly resigned as city manager Jan. 6, 2026. He was appointed unanimously by the City Commission on Aug. 22, 2023, and officially started his role on Sept. 26, 2023.
While Hogencamp urged the commission to consider the market value of “proven stable leadership,” Commissioner Thomas Grant said he supported a lower starting number that would allow the city manager to “grow into the position.”
“I am uncomfortable talking about this but this is the forum. There is Sunshine. I would much rather a team of people negotiate this with Kevin but this is where we are,” he said.
“I would love to move that number down. When you go from $159,000 to $230,000, that kind of increase in small-town government, I don’t care what position you hold, in terms of a budget, that is untenable in my opinion. Killingsworth’s salary was an abominable salary that we had to implement to get him here at the time. I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re our city manager but we’re taking a leap of faith with you, too.”
Under the City Charter, it is up to Hogencamp’s discretion whether to abolish or staff the deputy city manager position. Upon appointment of a deputy, the city commission would be asked to ratify the position.
“When I will come to you asking you to approve a deputy, I’m not sure yet. I have a good grasp otherwise of what the organization looks like. Given the historical volatility of the position, of the last four city managers, the longest-tenured one was 28 months,” he said.
“You’re not gambling on me. You know what you get. I can say that with certainty.”
