Council members debated the compensation committee’s recommendation (a $45,000 annual salary), several substitute proposals and the ethics and optics of members voting on their own pay. A motion to raise member pay to $30,000 (chair $36,000) failed; a subsequent motion to set salaries at $33,000 (chair $39,060) also failed. Ultimately a motion to keep current salaries unchanged (council members $24,000; chair $30,000) passed by voice vote.

During the discussion members cited competing concerns: the time and demands of council service and the need to attract diverse candidates versus the fiscal constraints of the county in a year with significant tax and budget pressures. Some members said they were uncomfortable awarding raises during recent staff reductions, while others emphasized the need for compensation to avoid limiting who can serve.

The council recorded that the compensation committee’s work informed the discussion and that the issue may be revisited in future budget cycles; for now, salaries will remain at their current levels.