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Council signals support for 2.7% COLA for elected officials while deferring creation of new salary framework
Summary
Mayor Carrie Thompson and Clerk Nicole Bolden recommended applying a 2.7% cost‑of‑living increase to elected officials for 2026 to match nonunion staff pay adjustments; the council generally signaled support but deferred codifying a new principles‑based salary framework to further committee work.
Council members debated how to set elected officials’ pay for 2026 and how to develop a repeatable, principles‑based process for future years. Mayor Carrie Thompson told council she favored a 2.7% COLA consistent with the increase for nonunion city staff and said a longer‑term, principle‑based review would be appropriate but could be done outside the immediate budget timetable. Clerk Nicole Bolden recommended separate salary ordinances for the council, mayor and clerk to allow separate deliberations and again supported applying a 2.7% COLA this year.
Several council members said they supported establishing “values‑based” guiding principles for future salary decisions but differed about timing and method. Council member Flaherty said he would not vote for the civil city budget on accountability grounds and emphasized a desire for structural change; Council member Rosenberger likewise described trust concerns informed by prior interactions with the administration. Other members said they supported a COLA and urged the fiscal committee to resume work on a repeatable method and comparisons with peer cities.
No formal ordinance or salary change vote was taken during the meeting; council members indicated majority support for a 2.7% COLA to mirror nonunion staff adjustments and directed the fiscal committee to continue work on a values‑based framework and peer comparisons outside the immediate budget vote.
