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West Chester council debates staggering pay increases for future council members and mayor; sends proposal to Act committee
Summary
Council discussed a proposal to raise future council and mayor salaries in staged increases (a $1,000 bump next cycle and further increases up to the state cap), debated equity and timing, and voted to return the matter to the Act committee for more work and presentation of ordinance language.
Council members on July 15 debated a proposal to increase compensation for future West Chester borough council members and the mayor, discussing staggered implementation across election cycles and whether to set a single future date for a uniform increase.
The proposal discussed would raise compensation by $1,000 in the next election cycle for newly elected members, with a second $1,000 increase in a later cycle; members noted that state law caps pay for municipalities with populations between 15,000 and 25,000 (cited cap figure in discussion was $6,900 for council members under current code). One councilor urged moving to the statutory maximum now to avoid repeated deliberations; others favored a staggered or modest approach to avoid the appearance of self‑enrichment.
The borough solicitor clarified that salary changes can be set prospectively for newly elected members and that a later ordinance could set a uniform pay level effective from a given future date. After discussion about equity, mayoral pay relativity and budget impacts, council agreed to send the proposal back to the Act committee for further study and to have the solicitor prepare draft ordinance language as needed.
