Whether it is at the federal, state or local level, government growth has exploded in the past years. Runaway government growth is anathema to American individual rights as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.

Recently, four initiatives were filed with Murrieta to reduce the size of city government and to level the playing field for new candidates. The initiatives seek to curb big city government growth in the modestly sized city of Murrieta.

The initiatives are very simple. One will allow political signs for elections. This is now unconstitutionally banned by the city.

Another limits the terms that city council members can serve to two consecutive four-year terms. Former council members may choose to run again for office after a four-year cooling-off period.

The third initiative limits stipends and perks for City Council members to 15 percent of the median household income of the people of Murrieta.

Council members currently receive $600-per-month stipends for attending meetings and other functions. Stipends are not salaries. Council members also receive full medical benefits, life insurance, club memberships, pensions, etc. It is unrealistic to expect the council to forgo these perks voluntarily, hence the need for this initiative.

The last proposed initiative is similar to the third, but would tie the city manager's salary to the median household income of Murrieta.

Murrieta's current interim city manager makes $25,000 a month, plus a car. Although Indio's city manager makes $300,000 per year with perks, Murrietans shouldn't follow Indio over the cliff like lemmings.

And while Murrieta plans to hire a new manager at about $225,000 to $250,000 a year in October, this is still too costly. It is becoming apparent that too many cities hire from a good ol' boys network of insiders.

Throughout the Murrieta community, there are other qualified individuals from other enterprising sectors who could easily learn the ropes and do the job for less. Public service is about service, not high-end salaries.

Having doubts? Then go to www.payscale.com and do the math. You will find that a city manager should make about $150,000 for a city of our size in Southern California. This analysis is for a city manager with 30 years of experience, a Harvard MBA and running a city with 300 employees.

The current median household income for Murrieta is about $80,000 per year. This proposal would pay the city manager 1.8 times that value ($144,000), including benefits. If the city manager facilitates raising median family income to $100,000 per year, then he could make $180,000.

This initiative proposes to give the city manager an incentive to raise his own salary by tying his salary to the people he serves. If family incomes go up, then the city manager's does, as well. However, policies that strangle economic growth and hurt family incomes would penalize city leaders by decreasing their pay and stipends.

The added accountability these initiatives could provide is the essence of good limited government. Obviously, the Founding Fathers would approve wholeheartedly.

- Bob Kowell and Casey Evans of Murrieta, and Rick Reiss of Temecula, are sponsoring four initiatives in the city of Murrieta.