Irmo council approves first reading of ordinance to raise elected officials' base pay, link raises to training

The Town of Irmo council on first reading approved an ordinance to raise base pay for elected officials and to create pay tiers tied to professional-development completion.

Courtney, a town staff member, told the council the Archers Group completed a classification and compensation study that included mayor and council pay. Courtney said the study showed the town’s current pay is below the market median and recommended a new salary structure that incentivizes completion of the Municipal Elected Officials Institute (MEO) and an advanced MEO track. “We have engaged with the Archers Group on a salary, classification and compensation study,” Courtney said. “They did find that the medium market for council members and mayor, that salary is a lot higher than what you guys are currently being compensated at.”

The ordinance would raise council members’ base pay from $7,200 to $10,000 annually and the mayor’s base pay from $9,600 to $13,500 annually, according to the staff presentation. Staff described a two-tier incentive tied to completion of the MEO and an advanced MEO program that would increase pay above those base levels; staff presentation described specific incremental amounts but some recorded figures were inconsistent in the transcript and are not specified here.

Town staff and legal counsel confirmed the ordinance was reviewed for legal sufficiency and by the Municipal Association. Will, identified in the meeting as a legal reviewer, told the council any approved salary increase cannot take effect until the next general election (not a special election) and would begin after the newly elected members are sworn in, at the December meeting following the November general election.

Councilmembers who spoke supported the idea as encouraging professional development. One councilmember said the goal was not personal enrichment but to encourage training and to make elected service more attractive. “I have found great value in going through the training,” Councilmember Coleman said. Another councilmember noted the town had not raised these amounts since a 2013 study and framed the change as an investment in future leadership.

The motion for first reading was made and seconded; the roll call recorded unanimous support. Councilmember Penfield, Councilmember Coleman, Dr. Walton and Mayor Davis voted yes. The ordinance passed first reading and will return for a second reading or further action on a later agenda.

The council did not adopt final pay changes tonight; the effective date for any increase is governed by state law and will be after the next general election. The staff presentation and legal review materials were cited in the meeting record.