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Council narrowly approves 4% raise and one-time 4% bonus for city administrator
Summary
After a closed-session performance review, Waukesha City Council voted 7–6 on March 3 to increase the city administrator's base salary by 4% retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and to grant a one-time performance bonus equal to 4% of the 2025 base salary.
Following a closed-session performance review, the Waukesha City Common Council on March 3 approved a 4% increase to the city administrator's annual base salary, effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2026, and authorized a one-time performance bonus equal to 4% of the administrator's 2025 base salary.
A council member made the motion after the meeting returned to open session. The motion included the retroactive raise and a one-time bonus; council debate focused on whether to introduce a bonus program for city employees. Dean Lemke stated on the record that he opposed the bonus and would vote no. Another council member, Rick Lemke, said he opposed bonuses for city employees even though he favored a larger base raise.
"I'm not in favor of the bonus, as all city employees don't get bonuses," Rick Lemke said, adding that he would have supported a larger base salary increase instead.
The council recorded multiple roll-call votes during the discussion and the final tally on the motion was 7 in favor and 6 opposed. The mayor noted that one council member participating by Zoom (Alderperson Matthews) could not be counted in closed-session votes.
The motion directs that the salary increase be made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and that the one-time performance bonus be calculated using the administrator's 2025 base salary. Council did not specify a date for payment at the meeting; staff will process payroll adjustments and the retroactive pay according to city payroll procedures.
