Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Iberia council debates $1,500 monthly increase for future council members
Summary
Council members spent much of the meeting debating a proposal to raise the city council benefits package by $1,500 per month — discussion centered on timing, historical pay, lost benefits, car allowances and whether changes should apply to future officeholders.
The City of New Iberia’s council spent a lengthy portion of its meeting discussing a proposal to increase the future city council benefits package by $1,500 per month.
Councilman David Merrill, who sponsored the item, said the increase is long overdue and would help make council service more viable for working residents. "We have stuff in our packet and it shows all the way back to 1983," Merrill said, arguing the current compensation has not kept pace with rising costs. Merrill noted the raise would help attract candidates and cover extra expenses members incur while serving.
Several council members endorsed the idea in principle but urged caution on timing. One council member said the mayoral pay question on the November ballot could shape public appetite for pay increases and recommended waiting to see that result. Others asked whether the adjustment should raise the salary or instead increase the vehicle/car allowance to avoid higher payroll taxes for members.
Mayor (presiding) framed the discussion around recruitment and retention and emphasized the need to attract "the best and the brightest" to serve. Several members also pointed to the fact that council benefits such as health and retirement were removed years ago; one councilor said those benefits once existed and have not been restored.
A public commenter, Richard Phillips, had earlier asked whether the $1,500 was total or per person and asked what benefits the raise would cover. Phillips said the proposal left questions unanswered: "There's no further explanation of what these benefits are," he said, urging clarity before a vote.
Council members agreed to continue the discussion and consider specific ordinance language and timing — including whether any change would take effect for a future council term — and to bring the item back as a formal agenda item for possible vote at a later meeting.
The meeting did not record a final vote on the proposal in the provided transcript; council members asked that the item be returned to the agenda for further consideration.
