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New Iberia council introduces charter amendment to set future mayor's pay at $120,000, subject to voter approval
Summary
The City of New Iberia's City Council voted to introduce an amendment to the home-rule charter to set the mayor's annual salary at $120,000 for the next elected mayor; the change is subject to voter approval and is scheduled for a public hearing on April 7, 2026.
The New Iberia City Council on Tuesday introduced an amendment to the city's home-rule charter that would set the annual salary for the next duly elected mayor at $120,000, if approved by voters.
The mayor, who put the item on the agenda, told the council the current charter specifies a base mayoral salary of $80,000 and that the city's responsibilities and budget have grown since the charter was written. "It has nothing to do with my salary," the mayor said during the discussion, stressing that a charter change would apply to the next mayor and be decided by the electorate.
Council members debated whether raising the mayor's pay would broaden the pool of qualified candidates and reflected on salary comparisons in neighboring municipalities. One supporter said the change would make it more affordable for people with careers to run for mayor without sacrificing their livelihoods; another council member said population and operational responsibilities (the city's roughly 29,000 residents and the addition of a police department) justify revisiting the compensation structure.
After several council members proposed figures in the $115,000–$120,000 range, Councilman Dan Dahl moved to amend the introduced ordinance to specify $120,000 as the mayor's annual salary; the motion was seconded and the clerk read revised language to amend section 3.06 of the city charter, subject to voter approval. The council set a public hearing on the amendment for April 7, 2026 and instructed staff to schedule follow-up steps required under the charter.
The ordinance introduction does not change compensation immediately; it places the proposed wording before voters if the council proceeds through the charter amendment steps. Council members noted that council-member pay is handled separately and can be changed by a council vote, whereas mayoral pay must be altered through the charter and the electorate.
Next steps: The city will hold a public hearing on April 7 on the proposed charter amendment. The amendment would only take effect if voters approve it in the required election.
