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Moscow council adopts salary adjustment ordinance for mayor and council, effective Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to increase elected-officer salaries in line with a two-year CPI adjustment. The mayor's monthly salary will rise to $2,567.60 and council members’ monthly pay to $890.19, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The ordinance was passed after a roll-call vote with one dissenting vote.
The Moscow City Council adopted an ordinance to adjust the salaries of the mayor and council members effective Jan. 1, 2026, following the two-year adjustment method specified in Moscow city code.
Bill Belknap told the council that both Idaho law and Moscow city code require elected-officer compensation to be fixed by ordinance and that the city adopted a practice in 2023 to tie adjustments to a specified consumer price index. Under the proposed ordinance the mayor’s monthly salary would increase from $2,396.96 to $2,567.60 and council members’ monthly pay would increase from $831.03 to $890.19.
“Such adjustments must be specifically approved by ordinance at least six months prior to the effective date,” Belknap told the council. He cited Moscow city code Title 1, Chapter 8, Section 8-1 and referenced the CPI values used: 4.1% for 2023 and 2.9% for 2024.
Council members debated the policy considerations. Several members said they do not serve for the money but that modest compensation helps broaden who can afford to serve. Councilor Hailey expressed ambivalence about accepting an automatic CPI adjustment but acknowledged the role compensation plays in inclusive representation.
Council action: A motion to adopt the ordinance under suspension of rules (reading by title and summary) passed. A subsequent final roll-call vote recorded: Gina — Aye; Drew — Aye; Bryce — Aye; Julia — Aye; Sandra — Aye; Hailey — No. The ordinance was identified in the meeting as Ordinance No. 1 (2025). The ordinance states the salary changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2026.
What the ordinance does and does not do: the ordinance fixes compensation amounts and the CPI index to be used for future adjustments (as adopted in 2023). It does not create additional benefits or change the statutory requirement that compensation be set by ordinance.
Implementation: staff said the adjusted amounts will be published and the ordinance will be in effect following passage, approval and publication according to law.
