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Speakers urge cost-of-living adjustment to assembly pay to broaden access to office
Summary
Two public speakers asked the commission to raise assembly compensation to reflect Anchorage's higher cost of living, citing a 2019 base of roughly $60,000 and an inflation-adjusted target near $75,000 in 2025 to make service feasible for working families.
Two public commentators told the Salaries and Emoluments Commission on Oct. 22 that a lack of cost-of-living adjustments to assembly pay blocks people with typical Anchorage expenses from running for or serving in local office.
"At around $60,000 in 2019 no longer reflects what it actually costs to live and work full time in Anchorage today," said Emmy Peavey, who identified herself as facilitator for the Alaska Center's boards and commissions leadership program. "If adjusted for inflation, that amount would be about $75,000 in 2025. This difference isn't just a number. It represents whether someone can afford to say yes to public service."
Lucien Dyer, communications director for Stand Up Alaska and a board member with NAMI Anchorage, described his own financial precarity and said the current pay and lack of transparent, accessible compensation discourages diverse candidates. "I may only pay about $800 a month for living expenses but half of my bedroom has black mold and moisture damage," he said, describing why compensation and transparency matter for prospective candidates.
Commissioners acknowledged the testimony and several members said they wanted more data before taking action. Members noted that the assembly received a sizable pay increase in 2019 and that an additional change to health benefits was enacted in late 2024, so any new change would be considered against those recent steps and municipal budget constraints.
The public testimony informed the commission's direction to ask staff to gather more data and prepare materials ahead of any noticed meeting that would consider pay or benefit changes.
