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Council approves $27,000 annual pay for city council members; mayor's $100,000 proposal fails for lack of motion
Summary
After discussion that referenced Mississippi law and a city salary study, Meridian council voted to set each city council member's pay at $27,000 beginning July 2025; a separate mayoral pay increase to $100,000 was proposed by the mayor but received no second and was not added to the agenda.
The Meridian City Council voted to set each council member's annual salary at $27,000 beginning July 1, 2025. Discussion before the vote referenced Mississippi law governing the timing of pay changes for municipal officials and a salary study the mayor and council had previously reviewed.
Mayor Percy Bland explained he had proposed a larger increase but said any pay change enacted by the current council applies to the incoming council and must meet the 90-day-before-election timing requirement under Mississippi law. One council member referenced Mississippi Code Annotated §21-8-21 and the need to act before statutory deadlines.
The mayor asked to amend the agenda to add an order raising the mayor's salary to $100,000 beginning July 2025, saying the figure reflected the salary-study recommendation. That agenda amendment received no second and "died on the floor," according to the transcript. Council later moved the council-member pay proposal, adjusted the amount during debate to $27,000 (a lower figure discussed in the meeting) and approved it.
Council members also discussed larger pay and budget priorities, with several members saying they prioritized raises for city employees and expressed concern about spending taxpayer dollars without ensuring adequate budgeted funding. The council scheduled additional work sessions to review vacancy lists and budget details before the next meeting.
