Salary changes advance as Liberty Lake’s salary commission sets 7% increase for council and mayor
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Summary
The Salary Commission voted unanimously to increase council pay to $9.40 and the mayor’s salary to $28.65 (7%). Staff also outlined a proposed non‑bargained package (2.7% COLA + 3% market adjustment + 2% step) that together equates to ~7.7% in some ranges.
Liberty Lake’s Salary Commission has approved a 7% boost in elected official compensation and council staff discussed broader pay changes for city employees during a Nov. 10 budget workshop.
Finance staff told the council the Salary Commission voted unanimously at a public hearing to increase council member pay from $8.80 to $9.40 and the mayor’s pay from $26.75 to $28.65. Kyle said he will update the budget binder to reflect the commission’s decision.
At the same time, staff walked the council through the proposed compensation structure for non‑bargained positions: a 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment, a 3% market adjustment based on Association of Washington Cities salary survey comparables (examples: Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Airway Heights, Pullman) and a 2% step increase tied to satisfactory annual evaluations. Staff described the 2% step as moving an employee one step within a 10‑step salary range. The combined elements can produce a roughly 7.7% impact on ranges for some non‑bargained positions.
Councilors asked for the list of comparables and for clarification where adjustments are targeted; staff said the underlying survey and a detailed comparable list will be provided in supporting documentation.
What’s next: staff will correct salary lines in the binder and bring updated contracts or agreements to the Nov. 18 meeting where applicable.