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Lake Stevens salary commission reviews 2.44% COLA for mayor, discusses council pay and possible president premium
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting, the Lake Stevens Salary Commission reviewed comparable-city data and a proposed 2.44% cost-of-living adjustment for the mayor and council, discussed retaining a flat council rate, and asked staff for follow-up on comparables and a list of council-president duties.
LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — The Lake Stevens Salary Commission on Oct. 13 reviewed city and regional salary comparisons and discussed recommending a 2.44% cost-of-living adjustment for the mayor and council for 2026, staff said.
The commission’s review was led by city staff who compiled Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) data and a comparable-city spreadsheet. Staff told commissioners the recommended 2.44% increase is the preliminary non-represented employee COLA (90% of CPI-W) shown in the city’s draft budget materials, and that the amount would raise the mayor’s monthly pay by roughly $260 a month under the proposal.
Why it matters: the commission’s annual salary schedule becomes part of the city budget and, if adopted, takes effect on a timetable set in the Lake Stevens code. Commissioners said they want the commission’s recommendations on the record before December, when a public hearing will be held to file the commission’s written salary schedule with the city clerk.
Commissioners and staff discussed three main pay questions: whether to align…
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