Fountain Hills council approves delayed start for higher stipends after heated debate
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Summary
After lengthy public comment and internal debate over constitutionality and fairness, the council voted 4–3 to make new council and mayor stipends effective when the next council is seated; the decision drew strong public opposition.
The Fountain Hills Town Council voted to make changes to council and mayor stipends but amended the start date after an intense public debate and vocal opposition.
Councilors discussed a resolution that would raise council member stipends from $400 to $750 per month and increase the mayor’s stipend from $600 to $1,100 per month. The council ultimately adopted an amendment to make any increase effective when the next council is seated (the packet and staff materials identify the intended effective date as January 2026 for the incoming term), a change approved by a 4‑3 margin during the May 6 meeting.
Debate on the dais ranged from legal questions about whether a governing body can grant itself raises during an ongoing term to policy arguments about parity with staff and the principle of public service. Councilwoman Gail Earl cited Arizona constitutional constraints and argued raises must take effect only at the start of a term. Other council members, including Councilman Rick Watts and Councilman Alan Skillicorn, said they wanted to normalize an annual or CPI-linked adjustment and to eliminate separate travel reimbursements by folding incidental costs into the stipend.
Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed to the stipend increase. Dozens of residents told the council the proposed increases were untimely and out of step with priorities such as staff pay and public safety; speakers urged council to prioritize a 3% cost-of-living raise for town staff instead. "This is embarrassing," said one speaker during the public-comment period. Several speakers also tied the issue to broader concerns about governance and ongoing disputes over legal representation, saying they opposed large increases for elected officials while staff and services face budget pressure.
The council’s amended action delays any pay change to the incoming council; the transcript shows council members split on the vote and that the amendment passed 4–3. Councilmembers agreed the stipend language in the adopted resolution would also specify the stipend is "in lieu of any other salary or wages, reimbursements or allowances for cellular devices and services, reimbursements or allowances for use of personal vehicles within Maricopa County, and other incidental expenses." That language was intended to eliminate separate travel and device reimbursements.
The council did not implement stipend increases for the current seated council; the decision leaves the administrative details to staff and to future budget implementation if the effective date conditions are met.
