Rock Springs council debates ordinance to clarify council member cashout practice

The Rock Springs City Council debated Ordinance 2025-09 on first reading Aug. 5, a housekeeping amendment intended to clarify how council member cashout payments are handled. Matthew L. McBurnett, City Clerk, told the council that a total of $5,388.16 was paid to council members in 2024 and that current language needed clarification because staff could not locate the origin of the practice.

Supporters framed the change as administrative cleanup. Councilor Zotti said the cashout amounts to roughly $600 per council member and noted the practice is not available to other employees. Councilor Thompson said he had initially misunderstood the ordinance’s intent and that Wyoming retirement and life insurance contributions would continue unchanged under the amendment.

Opponents requested greater transparency and questioned whether changes affected compensation. Councilor Milonas pressed for clarity about who personally accepted reduced payments and whether the council was being asked to accept a pay cut; Mayor Max Mickelson said the mayor builds the agenda and that the amendment was intended to prevent tying a full-time employee’s salary to elected officials’ pay. “It is fundamentally flawed to tie a full-time employee’s salary to that of the Mayor and Council,” Mayor Mickelson said, adding that council service is public service and not meant to financially enrich members.

The ordinance was read on first reading; councilors were invited to bring forward a resolution or ordinance to adjust council salary if they wished, and staff will return with required documentation on subsequent readings.