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Council advances pay changes: next-term mayor salary set at $120,000; council stipends increased for 2027
Summary
On first passage the council approved ordinances that would set the mayor's salary at $120,000 and raise councilmember stipends to $9,000 (plus $1,000 for council president), both effective Jan. 1, 2027; council struck a proposed automatic COLA from the mayoral ordinance after debate.
The East Providence City Council on Aug. 19 voted on first passage to set new compensation levels for the next municipal term: the council passed an ordinance to increase the annual city council stipend to $9,000 (with an additional $1,000 for the council president) and approved an ordinance to set the mayor's annual salary at $120,000 effective January 1, 2027.
Councilman Fogerty introduced the council-stipend proposal and said the current stipend—about $3,500 annually—has not kept pace with the time demands of serving on council. "Serving on council is not limited to two meetings a month," Fogerty said, arguing the increase would help recruit and retain public servants.
Council debate included disagreement over whether to index future increases to the Consumer Price Index. One member proposed automatic annual CPI adjustments; that proposal was removed from the ordinances after members expressed concerns about locking in automatic increases during potentially tight fiscal years. After an amendment to strike the automatic COLA language from the mayoral ordinance, the council voted in favor of the measures on first passage.
Both ordinances were described as effective for subsequent officeholders beginning in 2027; members emphasized they do not apply to sitting officials. The council completed first passage votes by voice vote.
Next steps: the measures will proceed through ordinance process (public notice and required readings) before becoming final for the 2027 term.
