Tempe council approves city manager employment agreement amid equal‑pay defense

The Tempe City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an amended employment agreement for City Manager Rosa Chasti, setting a base salary of $370,000. Mayor Corey Woods framed the decision as alignment with regional pay benchmarks and a commitment to equal pay for women in leadership.

Woods told the council he pulled salary data from neighboring jurisdictions, saying the East Valley average for city managers is $384,462 and listing Phoenix ($415,000), Chandler (~$375,000) and Scottsdale (~$369,000) as comparators. "The base salary of $370,000 is perfectly appropriate for all the work that she frankly does," Woods said during discussion, adding that the city seeks to attract and retain top talent.

Council members raised no formal objections during debate. Woods also called attention to Tempe's equal‑pay ordinance and said scrutiny of Chasti’s salary raised concerns because she is the city’s first woman city manager and a woman of color. "I am proud of the work that she has done on behalf of the city," Woods said before asking for the motion; the vote was 7–0 in favor.

The approval followed the council's routine consent and non‑consent procedures. No amendments to the salary amount were made on the dais; Vice Mayor Garland moved the measure and Councilmember Hodge seconded it. The amended agreement was recorded on the public agenda as item 7A11.

Next steps: The employment agreement as approved becomes the governing contract between the City of Tempe and the city manager; any future changes to compensation or contract terms would require council action.