Council discusses ordinance for pay increase conditional on reelection

During the Pueblo City Council Work Session held on June 9, 2025, discussions centered around potential changes to council member compensation and the governance structure of the city. The meeting highlighted the council's consideration of an ordinance to adjust pay for council members, which has not been updated since 1998.

Councilman Flores initiated the conversation by questioning the legal framework for changing council pay, confirming that adjustments could be made through ordinance, provided that current members would not benefit from any immediate increases. This stipulation ensures that any pay raise would only take effect for council members upon their re-election. The council discussed the implications of inflation, noting that the current compensation does not reflect the cost of living increases over the past decades. Councilman Flores suggested that doubling the current pay could help attract younger candidates who might find the existing compensation insufficient to cover basic expenses related to their roles.

The council also debated the timing of any potential pay increase, with some members advocating for immediate implementation while others expressed concerns about the optics of raising their own salaries. Councilman Boston raised a valid point about the perception of self-serving actions, emphasizing the need for transparency and public trust in the council's decisions.

In addition to the pay discussions, the council touched on the possibility of reverting to a city manager form of government, which had been previously decided by voters in favor of a mayoral system. Some council members expressed reluctance to revisit this issue, citing the recent decision by the electorate.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to schedule further work sessions to address these topics comprehensively. The council aims to ensure that any proposed changes are well-considered and reflect the community's needs and expectations. As the council prepares for upcoming meetings, the discussions from this session will likely shape the future governance and compensation structures in Pueblo City.