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Arlington Heights board approves ordinance to raise mayor and trustee pay, effective after 2029 election
Summary
After a lengthy public and board debate about equity, timing and optics, the Village Board approved an ordinance to raise mayor and trustee compensation with changes scheduled to take effect following the 2029 election. Supporters called the change an equity measure; opponents said the timing is poor.
Trustees voted to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the municipal code to increase compensation for the mayor and trustees, with the increases scheduled to take effect after the 2029 election.
Trustee Swingbeck moved the ordinance following discussion at the committee-of-the-whole; Trustee Santa Maria and several other trustees supported the change as a way to lower barriers to public service. "Public service should be accessible to everyone and not just those who have financial flexibility to devote significant time to elected office," Trustee Santa Maria said. Trustee Bertucci and others highlighted that Arlington Heights' stipends were low compared with peer communities and argued modest increases would broaden inclusion.
Trustee Manganaro and Trustee Zyck opposed the ordinance, arguing the timing was poor while residents face higher costs and the optics of increasing elected-official compensation during levies or service pressures were problematic. "I just don't believe that this is the right time to be raising elected officials' salaries," Trustee Manganaro said during debate.
Village Manager Recklaus presented staff analysis showing the village had historically paid at a percentile of comparable communities and said the last adjustment was in 1996. He explained state law requires any pay increase be structured to take effect after an election to avoid conflicts. After deliberation, the Board adopted the ordinance by roll call; the minutes record the motion as carrying.
The adoption sets a future effective date and directs staff to implement the administrative steps needed to make the change after the 2029 election cycle.
