Scappoose council approves market adjustment for city manager to $173,600, 3% COLA in July

The Scappoose City Council voted to approve a market-rate adjustment that raises City Manager Ben Berger’s salary to $173,600, effective with the March 2025 payroll period, and to provide a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2025.

Councilors approved the pay change after discussing a series of compensation comparisons and how the city’s pay ranges align with similarly sized Oregon cities. The council also voted to accept Berger’s six-month performance review, with councilors stating his performance met or exceeded expectations in areas discussed during the executive-session evaluation.

Council members and staff discussed two separate components of Berger’s compensation: an immediate market adjustment and the routine COLA that typically takes effect in July. Berger and staff cited recently completed salary comparisons that pulled data from cities such as Seaside, St. Helens and other coastal and regional communities. Those comparisons, plus an attorney-provided table from a 2023 compensation review, were used to recommend a market increase in the range of 10% plus a modest six-month “step” adjustment of about 2.5% (a common city practice for merit adjustments).

City Manager Ben Berger told the council the pay adjustment was important to his personal circumstances. “Right right now, the biggest thing for me on the contract is getting into place so I can buy a house,” Berger said, adding that salary was more important to him at this time than additional vacation.

Council members debated whether to apply a step adjustment now, change the posted salary range, or place Berger at the top of the existing range. Speakers noted differences among comparison cities — some have larger budgets, some lack particular municipal services such as a fire department — and emphasized different ways to select comparable communities (population, budget, staffing). The council also discussed COLA levels reported elsewhere: an attorney-supplied table noted a 6.55% COLA for 2024 and an anticipated 6.55% for 2025 in some public-employee calculations, but councilors said the city’s usual July COLA projection was closer to 3%.

After additional clarification on payroll timing, Council President Miller moved the market-rate adjustment to $173,600, effective for the March 2025 payroll period (the council discussed using the March payroll start date of Feb. 26 for accounting). The motion also specified a 3% COLA effective July 1, 2025. The council voiced approval by saying “aye,” and the mayor instructed staff to place the adjustment into the March payroll period.

The council separately moved to accept the city manager’s six-month evaluation for inclusion in Berger’s personnel file and authorized the mayor to sign the review documentation. During final checks the council president confirmed that items discussed in the executive session met or exceeded expectations.

The approved market adjustment increases Berger’s base pay from amounts discussed earlier in the meeting (figures presented by staff showed a 2024-level COLA projection placing Berger near $157,294 and a 2025 projection near $167,597 if higher COLA figures were applied). The specific approved increase to $173,600 was described to the council as aligning Berger more closely with mid-range salaries paid in comparable cities. Councilors noted other total compensation elements used elsewhere, such as vehicle or housing allowances and deferred-compensation contributions, but Berger said he was not requesting those items at this time.

The council’s action is limited to approving the market adjustment and the July COLA; no additional benefit changes were adopted. The motion directed city payroll staff to make the March adjustment effective with the March 2025 payroll period and to apply the 3% COLA on July 1, 2025.