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Beach Grove council adopts 2026 salary ordinance after debate over elected officials' raises
Summary
After a contentious exchange and a 10-minute recess to clarify figures, the Beach Grove Common Council approved General Ordinance No. 5, 2025 (the 2026 salary ordinance) as amended; council removed cost-of-living adjustments for the mayor, clerk treasurer and council members, reducing the ordinance's cost by $3,271.86.
The Beach Grove Common Council voted to approve General Ordinance No. 5, 2025, the city's 2026 salary ordinance, after a heated discussion about raises for elected officials and a short recess so the clerk treasurer could confirm exact numbers.
Pam Starder, a resident who offered public comment before the ordinance discussion, urged the council to "please reconsider a yes vote on this new budget and please consider voting no," arguing the city had warned it was "going broke" even as the proposed budget included raises. Starder also asked that police enforce speeders in the park so a vehicular bridge can be reopened and asked for 24-hour staffing at the police station so someone is available in the lobby.
Councilors debated whether portions of elected officials' salaries (currently funded in part by the sewer fund) could instead be borne by the general fund or removed entirely from the 2026 salary ordinance. Several councilors said they supported removing cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for elected officials but requested specific line-item figures before making a final change.
After a recess to confirm the numbers, Clerk Treasurer Samantha Straten read the amendment into the record: adjusted bi-weekly and yearly amounts for the mayor, clerk treasurer and council members that reduced the ordinance cost by $3,271.86. The council then voted to approve the ordinance as amended. The voice votes on second and final reading were recorded as 4-3 in favor, and the ordinance passed.
The ordinance sets the bi-weekly and annual pay rates for appointed and elected officials and employees in Beach Grove for 2026. The council did not adopt broader changes to how positions are funded; staff noted reassigning salaries between funds would require further ordinance amendments and precise budget adjustments.
Council leaders and staff said the decision to adjust the ordinance was made to reflect both resident concerns and the need for accurate accounting. The council moved on to other agenda items after the vote.
