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Smithfield council approves staff raises but votes to leave mayor and council pay unchanged
Summary
After public comment and debate, the council approved Ordinance 2026-08 on compensation policy for city officers and employees but amended it to a 0% increase for the mayor and council; department head and employee COLAs were approved as proposed in the ordinance.
The Smithfield City Council on June 24 approved an ordinance setting compensation adjustments for city officers and certain appointed staff but amended the measure to leave the mayor and city council salaries unchanged.
City Manager Justin Lewis opened the public hearing on Ordinance 2026-08 and explained that Utah Senate Bill 91 (adopted 2024) requires public notice and a council vote for increases to elected-official pay. The original proposal included a 3.0% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the mayor and council and largely 2.0% increases for department heads (some already had merit increases in December 2025).
During the hearing residents Jeff Barnes and Amy Anderson voiced support for increases to better compensate staff and elected officials. In council debate several members said they support improving pay for staff but were uncomfortable voting to increase their own pay. Councilmember Todd Orme said that elected officials “ran to serve Smithfield residents, not for compensation,” and Councilmember Jenn Staker said she does not feel the need to be compensated.
Councilmember Jay Downs moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-08 amended to a zero-percent increase for the mayor and council, with department head and other proposed adjustments remaining; Councilmember Todd Orme seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Councilmembers discussed alternatives to repeated council votes on compensation, including creating an independent advisory commission to periodically review elected-official pay and consider cost-of-living or complexity of duties; Mr. Lewis clarified that SB 91 prevents automatic, unilateral pay increases and requires public hearings and a council vote.
The ordinance’s amendment leaves elected-official pay unchanged for the current council while authorizing the staff COLA and selected merit adjustments described in the ordinance.
