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Council debates mayoral pay, ultimately affirms current compensation levels
Summary
After extended debate and proposed amendments, the Lewiston City Council voted to affirm existing mayor and councilor compensation in city code rather than adopt the proposed ordinance changes.
Lewiston councilors on Aug. 11 considered changes to mayor and city council compensation but ultimately chose to keep the current pay levels in city code.
City Attorney Jennifer Takano advised the council that if compensation remained unchanged the city would not need to amend city code. At one point, councilors proposed lowering the mayor's annual pay to $70,000 and changing council pay; that amendment failed. A later motion to leave mayor and councilor compensation at the status quo (preserving the current city-code amounts) passed by roll call.
Mayor and council compensation must be addressed every two years under Idaho statute; the council took an affirmative action at the meeting to confirm that the existing compensation levels remain in force.
Council discussion
Councilors expressed differing views: some supported maintaining current levels so a future mayor would have discretion on staff and administration, while others said lower compensation could make it easier to fund a potential city administrator.
City Attorney Takano clarified procedures after the debate, telling the council that because the final decision left compensation unchanged, "there's not a requirement to amend city code in that section either." The council then passed a motion to affirm current compensation as set in city code.
Ending
By the end of the session the council recorded a formal affirmation that mayor and council compensation will remain as currently listed in city code; no ordinance amendment was adopted.
