Council approves first reading to adjust mayor and council pay; changes take effect after next election
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Summary
The council voted unanimously to approve first reading of an ordinance that would raise the mayor’s annual stipend by $2,000 and council members’ stipends by $1,000, with any change to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, consistent with state statute cited during the meeting.
The Eden Prairie City Council on Aug. 12 approved first reading of an ordinance amending city code section 2.05 to increase the mayor’s base pay by $2,000 and council members’ base pay by $1,000, with any change scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, after the next election as required by state statute.
Staff told the council the change arose from research comparing Eden Prairie’s mayor and council stipends with peer cities and from prior workshop discussions. The ordinance also updates language that links future annual adjustments to changes in the Consumer Price Index rather than to a governor’s salary cap that no longer applies.
City staff emphasized that statutory rules prevent elected officials from immediately changing their own pay; any approved change would not apply until after the next election cycle. The council discussed the intent to keep Eden Prairie’s stipends competitive with similar jurisdictions rather than to make the city the highest‑paying.
A council member moved to approve the first reading of the ordinance amending section 2.05 relating to mayor and council salaries. A second was given and the motion passed unanimously.
Council members noted the adjustment is modest and framed it as a forward‑looking measure intended to keep compensation comparable with peer cities so the city can attract a diverse candidate pool over time. The proposed changes and the CPI indexing language will return for a second reading and final adoption at a subsequent meeting.