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Glenarden council introduces ordinance to raise council stipends, debate centers on amount
Summary
Councilmembers introduced Ordinance 06-2025 to raise the annual council stipend; supporters said the increase would help offset childcare and other costs, while opponents called the proposed $12,000 figure excessive and urged a smaller raise or redistribution of mayoral salary.
Councilmembers introduced Ordinance 06-2025 on Feb. 1, 2025, a proposal to increase the annual stipend paid to members of the Glenarden City Council.
Sponsor remarks framed the measure as an effort to broaden access to public office. Council President, the bill’s sponsor, said the stipend increase is not intended to make a living, but to help offset costs such as childcare and travel: “Now mind you, $12,000 a year, which will be a thousand dollars a month, is nowhere near compensation for all the work that council members do. But it is a stipend that can help with the, costs,” the sponsor said.
Opponents questioned the size of the proposed boost and whether it would alter who runs for office. Councilman Herring said the proposed $12,000 figure is “excessive” and suggested an alternative that would spread the mayor’s salary among councilmembers if the city moves to a new government form. Other members raised budget pressures tied to state funding cuts; one councilmember referenced a reported $3.5 billion state deficit and warned that reductions could cascade to municipalities.
Council members requested comparative data on stipends in peer jurisdictions before setting a final figure. A council member said she would compile compensation comparisons for similarly sized Maryland municipalities and circulate that information to the council members for consideration ahead of a future vote.
No formal vote on Ordinance 06-2025 occurred at the meeting. The ordinance remains at the introduction stage pending additional information and further council discussion.
Next steps: staff agreed to collect compensation comparisons for council stipends in comparable Maryland municipalities and present the findings at least four weeks before a final vote.
