East Bethel council directs staff to draft ordinance to revise council pay

East Bethel — City leaders at a Sept. 22 work session discussed whether to raise the mayor’s and councilmembers’ pay and directed staff to prepare ordinance language for the council to review.

City staff told the council the existing ordinance lists the mayor’s pay as "$5.25 per month" and councilmembers’ pay as "$4.75 per month," and noted the amounts were last changed in October 2005. "If it is changed, it would not go into effect until January after the next election," staff said, citing state law that delays implementation so constituents have a chance to respond.

The topic drew brief discussion about options for structuring an increase. Council members mentioned three approaches: a one-time percentage or flat increase, a standing escalation tied to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), or a per‑diem for additional meetings. One council member suggested a 10% increase as an example; staff said that hypothetical would add about $960 to the budget and noted the city already has sufficient budget capacity for a change if the council chooses to adopt one.

Council members also raised the history and rationale for regular adjustments. "Another councils have regularly addressed it," a council member said, and one member said linking future adjustments to COLA would reduce the need for repeated ordinance changes.

No ordinance vote was taken at the work session. The council directed staff to draft the ordinance language incorporating the council’s guidance and to bring the proposed ordinance back for formal consideration and vote. Staff also noted any adopted change would become effective in January following the next election, per state law.

Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language and present it for council review and a future vote at a regular meeting.