The Brookings City Council on Oct. 13 authorized the mayor to sign a first amendment to the city manager’s employment agreement that aligns the manager’s compensation with the Brookings management compensation plan and applies retroactively to July 1, 2025.

Council members said the amendment is intended to reduce pay compression after the council previously approved a management compensation plan on Aug. 11 that did not apply to the city manager. "I think it's important that we try to do what we can to mitigate that compression," Mayor Isaac Hodges said during discussion.

The amendment was presented as a packet item; councilors cited the need for market competitiveness and internal equity. No dollar amounts, salary steps or benefits changes were read into the record during the meeting; the council packet contains the amendment text.

A motion to authorize the mayor to sign the first amendment passed on a recorded voice vote; the mayor announced the motion carries. The amendment is effective retroactive to July 1, 2025, per the council’s direction.

Why it matters: Councilors described the action as an administrative step to keep manager compensation consistent with the council-approved management compensation plan and to limit compression across city staff.

Next steps: The mayor will sign the amendment and staff will implement the payroll adjustments retroactive to the stated effective date.