Compensation review panel recommends initially freezing elected salaries, CPI‑U increases capped at 3%

Camille Exum, chair of the Compensation and Charter Review Commission, presented the commission's recommendations on Jan. 27, saying the panel weighed the county's fiscal condition and compared compensation across comparable jurisdictions.

Key recommendations included a salary freeze in the first year of the next four‑year term for both the county executive and council members, followed by CPI‑U‑based increases in subsequent years capped at 3 percent. The commission recommended a 5 percent premium for the council chair and a 2.5 percent premium for the vice chair above other council members during their terms.

Exum said the commission looked at comparator jurisdictions — Montgomery County, the District of Columbia, Frederick County and state and federal officials — to assess market alignment and the workload of county elected officials. "We want to make sure that the compensation is appropriate and suited for the work," Exum said.

Council members thanked Exum for her service and asked about timing and next steps. Exum and staff said the commission will make the recommendations available for council consideration; no formal salary change was adopted during the meeting.