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Commission recommends $73,004.23 base pay for council members, with 3.5% CPI adjustment in year two
Summary
The commission voted 3–2 to recommend a council member base salary of $73,004.23 for 2027, with a 3.5% inflation adjustment in 2028; members debated benchmarks and whether salary attracts candidates.
The Salary Review Commission voted on July 31 to recommend a council member base salary of $73,004.23 for 2027 and to apply a 3.5% adjustment in 2028 tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The motion passed 3–2 after debate over benchmarks, local budget pressure and recruitment goals.
Commissioners cited median/mean wage benchmarks for the Spokane metro as a primary comparator. One commissioner summarized the benchmark calculation: "The median, Spokane or the mean hourly wage was $68,005.56 annually in the Spokane Metro... Adjusted... that would be $73,004.23 in 2026," which the commission then used as the 2027 baseline. Dissenting members objected to raising salaries while the city faced layoffs and budget constraints; the minority voted to oppose the motion. The commission directed staff to publish the draft report and supporting data prior to the scheduled public hearing on Aug. 14 so the public may review the methodology.
