I see no reason not to just put it at 20000. Why not start with a nice round
You are adding so many new variables to this league (including new owners that have different ideas about value and salaries) that I doubt salary history will provide much use.
One other reason to move it to 20k for those of you in both leagues. Lets say the same player is up for bid in both leagues. You happen are bidding on the player in both league and in one he reaches your max and you cut out of the bidding. You basically just told everyone in the other league where you value that player and how high you will go. Not that I will mind. Any time a player is up for bid in this league, I will be scowering the other league for team's bidding history to get whatever info I can from that.
Anyway, in light of the fact that several owners have stated that they are going to abstain, we may need to have another vote or at least force the remaining two people to vote.