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Erlanger council debates future increases to mayor and council pay, cites KLC salary survey and statutory timing
Summary
Councilmembers discussed a proposed increase to the mayor’s salary (examples ranged from $20,000–$27,000) using Kentucky League of Cities data and raised statutory constraints on when compensation may take effect; no ordinance was adopted and members asked for more comparable regional data and clarified timing options.
Councilmember Hermes outlined an email and spreadsheet using 2022 Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) data suggesting the mayor’s salary in comparable cities ranges broadly and proposed an eventual $12,000 increase to bring Erlanger’s mayoral pay to $27,000, with any change timed to take effect in January 2031 (two elections away) to comply with statutory timing discussed in the session.
Other councilmembers urged using more recent or regionally comparable data (several cities were not included in the KLC ad‑district sample), suggested smaller increases (examples given: $20,000–$22,000 for mayor and a modest council bump of about $4,800), and voiced concerns about turning a part‑time position into a de‑facto full‑time job. The city attorney and others explained statutory constraints: compensation for elected municipal officers may need to be set at the first Monday in May in the election year, and the council may consider COLA mechanisms allowed by statute as an alternative.
Speakers emphasized different priorities: some argued that a higher salary is warranted given executive responsibilities and local comparators; others worried that higher pay could attract career politicians and change the mayor’s part‑time nature. The council agreed to refine the ordinance language (striking any language suggesting a full‑time mayor) and requested more complete local data before considering formal action.
What’s next: The council asked staff and members to gather additional, regionally comparable salary data and to draft clear ordinance language that preserves a part‑time mayor intent; no vote occurred at the caucus.
