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Council votes to draft bill to raise member pay to $21,000
Summary
The council approved drafting legislation to increase member pay from $16,000 to $21,000 and maintain a $1,000 supplement for the president; staff estimated FY27 cost ~$15,000 and recurring FY28 cost ~$25,000.
Dorchester County's council approved a motion to draft legislation that would raise county council member compensation from $16,000 to $21,000 annually and keep the president's additional $1,000 stipend.
Staff (S3) presented benchmarking showing an Eastern Shore average of about $21,519 and recommended a flat $21,000 with a $1,000 supplement for the president. "Currently, the county council is receiving $16,000 annually, and the president receives an additional $1,000," S3 said, and staff estimated an FY27 cost of roughly $15,000 if the change were adopted for the coming year, with recurring costs around $25,000 beginning FY28.
Councilmembers debated timing and the principle of sitting members voting on salary changes. Chair S1 said he was running unopposed and would not vote on the matter. Councilmember S4 cited inflation and Bureau of Labor Statistics adjustments as context for the change. The motion to proceed with drafting the ordinance carried.
Next steps: staff will draft the proposed ordinance and, if the council moves forward, the legislation would be introduced and scheduled for a public hearing at a future meeting.
