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Aurora council adopts phased aldermanic pay increase after split votes and mayoral tiebreaker
Summary
After extended debate and competing amendments, the City Council adopted a phased increase in aldermanic compensation: $29,250 for the term beginning June 1, 2027 and $34,500 the following year. The final vote was a tie that Mayor Richard C. Irvin broke in favor of the ordinance.
The Aurora City Council voted on Oct. 22 to raise aldermanic annual compensation in a two‑step schedule after several competing amendments and roll‑call votes left the chamber initially split.
The council considered ordinance 24‑0606, which sets annual compensation for aldermen for terms beginning June 1, 2027. Debate centered on timing, comparables, transparency and how to account for per‑meeting stipends. Multiple proposals were offered on the floor: Alderman Franco proposed a two‑year series of 12% increases (an amendment that failed), Alderman Bugg proposed $30,000 then $35,000, and Alderman Buck ultimately moved an option setting compensation at $29,250 for 06/01/2027–05/31/2028 and $34,500 for 06/01/2028–05/31/2029.
After discussion and a roll call on the Buck motion (moved by Alderman Buck and seconded by Alderman Smith), the council’s vote was deadlocked. With the council split, Mayor Richard C. Irvin cast the deciding vote in favor of the Buck amendment, and the ordinance as amended was adopted. The council instructed staff to note that aldermen also receive $90 per meeting for attendance (a fact raised during debate) and to continue periodic review of compensation comparables.
Council members who supported a smaller immediate increase said a phased approach balanced recruitment and retention goals with a need for fiscal prudence and transparency; members who opposed some proposals said the metrics used to set pay were imperfect or that the increase should have been larger to match peer cities.
What happens next: the new compensation schedule takes effect for aldermanic terms commencing in June 2027; council members noted that, under Illinois law, further compensation changes for current terms are constrained and that the council can revisit comparable analyses and future adjustments during later sessions.
