Prospect council raises member pay, adopts employee handbook and confirms two ethics appointees

Prospect City Council voted on Dec. 16 to raise council compensation, formally adopt an updated employee handbook and confirm two nominees to the city Ethics Commission.

The council approved Ordinance No. 646, Series 2024, moving the monthly pay for council members from $250 to $500 beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The measure passed on a 4-2 roll call after a brief debate about whether higher pay would broaden the pool of candidates and whether the figure was justified. Councilmembers approved Municipal Orders 9 and 10, consenting to two Ethics Commission nominations, and approved Municipal Order 11 to add and update the City of Prospect employee handbook.

Supporters of the pay increase cited comparative data compiled from the Kentucky League of Cities. Mayor John Evans said the council surveyed nearby cities and that the $500 figure came from the county-average for similar-sized cities. Opponents said the raise was arbitrary. Former council member Greg Huelsman, speaking during the public-comment period, urged caution but acknowledged the overall budget impact was small: "When you look at the overall budget, it's a drop in the bucket," Huelsman said, adding the change would amount to about $18,000 in additional annual cost if implemented as written.

Why it matters: Council pay and the personnel policy affect who can afford to serve and how the city manages staff costs. Supporters said a higher stipend could…