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Price City tables ordinance to publish elected and manager-level pay after public questions on transparency and budget impact
Summary
After a public hearing and lengthy public comment about transparency and the fairness of a 1% cost-of-living adjustment, Price City Council voted to table an ordinance required by state law that would publish compensation for elected, statutory and manager‑level positions until the next meeting.
Price — Price City Council opened a public hearing June 11 on an ordinance required by recent changes in Utah law to publish compensation for elected officials and manager-level staff, then voted to table the ordinance after residents and some council members urged clearer disclosure of dollar impacts and budget implications.
The hearing was opened at 5:15 p.m. to receive input on an ordinance that would list pay and compensation elements for the mayor, council members, contracted city attorney, city recorder, treasurer and department directors. Staff explained the ordinance implements requirements of the 2024 Utah legislative change (SB 91) and that the document can list compensation either as percentages or dollar amounts.
Residents pressed for greater transparency and more context. Wayne Jackson asked whether the schedule applied broadly, saying, “My question is, that means city council members, everybody in the city will buy this?” Resident Jeff Richens urged the city to publish how proposed changes would affect the budget ahead of hearings so citizens can assess impacts without returning for separate meetings. “So that we don't have to come back to this public hearing and then back to the next public hearing when you adopt your budget,” Richens said, asking staff to provide side-by-side comparisons online.
Council members debated options including adopting the ordinance without Exhibit A (the 1% figure shown in the packet), removing the 1% COLA language, or tabling the ordinance to the next meeting. Several speakers and at least one council member argued the exhibit's flat 1% cost-of-living adjustment treats higher-paid director positions the same as lower-paid employees and that the public would benefit from explicit dollar amounts and a citywide payroll impact. Staff responded the ordinance satisfies the statutory transparency requirement and that broader pay decisions remain part of the budget process.
A motion to table the ordinance until the next council meeting passed by voice vote. The council did not adopt Exhibit A and directed further discussion of the COLA approach, dollar disclosures and the tentative budget before taking final action. The ordinance will return to a future meeting for further consideration.
The immediate procedural outcome: the compensation ordinance was tabled and will be revisited in coming meetings; no salary changes were adopted as part of this action.
