Finance committee approves multi-year pay increases for Medina elected officials

The Medina City Council finance committee approved updated multi-year salary schedules for elected officials after a sustained discussion about competitiveness, pension crediting and health‑care thresholds. The committee voted to set council member pay at $9,672 in 2028 and $9,840 in 2029; the council president’s pay at $14,005.20 in 2028 and $14,770.02 in 2029; and to implement raises for the mayor and the finance director beginning in 2026 with annual 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustments thereafter.

Committee members and staff said the changes respond to comparisons with surrounding communities and to thresholds set by the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Committee members noted public emails received after the ad‑hoc committee’s recommendation were broadly supportive, but several members voiced concern that an initial jump for some positions felt large.

During discussion, members debated two related thresholds: the OPERS pension credit threshold (annualized in months) and the separate $1,000 monthly threshold OPERS uses today for health‑care credit eligibility. One member urged the committee to avoid “spiking” pay at once and suggested adopting smaller annual adjustments; others argued a larger, early adjustment would “right‑size” pay to comparable jurisdictions.

The committee approved a motion to set the council member schedule (effective 01/01/2028) at $9,672 for 2028 and $9,840 for 2029. The motion was made on the floor and seconded; the committee recorded the motion as carried. The committee also approved the council president schedule (effective 01/01/2028) at $14,005.20 for 2028 and $14,770.02 for 2029. For the mayor, the ad‑hoc committee’s recommendation — a starting 2026 salary of $108,030 with 2.5% annual adjustments through 2029 — was approved; two members abstained from that vote because they had declared candidacies. The finance director’s proposal — a 2026 starting salary of $105,196 with 2.5% annual adjustments through 2029 — was approved as presented.

Committee members said the recommended schedules were developed by an ad‑hoc committee using inflation indexing and jurisdictional comparisons; staff noted collective bargaining agreements reopening this September may affect future compensation discussions. The committee chair and staff also advised that OPERS formulas may change and that the council should revisit pay schedules if OPERS alters the credit thresholds.

The votes recorded on the floor concluded the agenda item; committee discussion and the adopted schedules will be forwarded to the full council for final action per the city’s rules.

Speakers on this topic included council members and staff who took part in the ad‑hoc review and the finance committee debate. The public comment period did not produce additional testimony on pay prior to the committee vote.