Council approves mayor's pay increase; council pay recommendation rejected

The council debated committee recommendations for mayoral and council compensation required by the city charter.

Vice Mayor Wallace summarized the committee's recommendation to increase the mayor's salary by 2.5% (presented as a change to $147,615, effective July 2027) and to continue the four‑year vehicle allowance practice (a vehicle allowance option up to $50,000). Wallace said the committee sought to apply a cost‑of‑living adjustment and presented the monetary value at council direction.

Some council members objected to the timing of a pay increase while the city is managing large borrowings. Councilman Lawrence said he could not support a raise given fiscal concerns, noting recent borrowing and constituents facing rent pressure. A motion to amend the mayor package by removing the vehicle allowance failed for lack of a second. The council then approved the compensation package 5–2.

On council compensation, a separate committee recommended increasing council pay to $750 per month ($9,000 annually) with a 2.5% COLA for subsequent years. After discussion, including concerns about timing and optics, the council voted against the committee recommendation and then voted to keep current council pay unchanged (the minutes record the final motion as passing 6–1).

Vice Mayor Wallace said the charter requires these reviews and emphasized the committee's intention to update pay after many years without change; dissenting members cited fiscal constraint and timing as reasons to hold pay steady.