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Shakopee council debates pay increases for elected officials, directs staff to return with revised proposal
Summary
Councilmembers debated proposed increases to council salaries and the treatment of liaison per‑diems; after extensive discussion no ordinance was adopted tonight and council directed staff to return with a proposal centered on raising council pay to roughly $10,500 with an annual COLA and clarified per‑diem handling.
Councilmembers spent a sustained portion of the May 5 meeting debating a proposal to change how elected officials are compensated and whether to fold liaison per‑diems into base pay.
Councilmember Delaney said he supports benchmarking to midpoint for recruitment and retention but warned an immediate $3,000 increase is too large: “I think that's a little excessive for the work we do,” he said. City administration told the council its intent was to match comparable cities so council service is not a barrier for candidates who cannot afford to serve. The administration argued that council duties involve significant time and that midpoint benchmarking supports recruitment.
Councilmember Whiting introduced ordinance language in packet materials (packet referenced ordinance 2026‑012) proposing to raise council pay (packet figures discussed ranged from the current $9,000 to proposals at $10,500 and $12,500) and to address the treatment of liaison per‑diems. Debate focused on whether the mayor’s pay should also change, how to treat the one councilmember who receives outside utility compensation, and whether to bake an annual cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) into the policy to reduce periodic political debate.
After amendments and multiple attempts to amend and restate the motion, the council did not adopt a final ordinance that evening. Instead, a majority gave staff direction to return with a revised proposal that centers on raising council pay to $10,500 with an annual COLA tied to staff increases and clarified language about liaison per‑diems (some members asked staff to fold average per‑diem amounts into the base rather than retain a separate per‑diem filing process). The council did not record a final roll‑call adoption of ordinance language during this meeting.
Councilmembers who opposed the larger immediate increase cited fairness, the administrative burden of per‑diem paperwork, and the preference for an automatic COLA mechanism to prevent periodic large adjustments. Proponents said midpoint benchmarking and modest, regular adjustments are needed to ensure service is accessible to a wider cross section of residents.
Staff will return with drafting options and language consistent with the direction provided.
