Salary and Emoluments Commission directs staff to draft mayor pay increase, members discuss roughly $183,000 target

The Salary and Emoluments Commission for the Anchorage Municipality instructed staff to draft a resolution proposing an increase to the mayor's salary and to return with municipal CPI data and payroll rounding details to finalize the exact figure.

Member Steve moved “to instruct staff to adopt a resolution for consideration that revises the mayor's salary to $18,083,000.” Member Karen presented that, based on CPI calculations discussed in the meeting, a round number closer to $183,000 was the working target and offered a friendly numerical clarification; the motion was seconded and adopted by unanimous consent to send a draft resolution to staff for refinement. The commission agreed a finalized figure would be set after staff provides the exact Urban Alaska CPI numbers and payroll rounding guidance.

Members framed the change as corrective: "if we don't take action to at least keep up with the price index, then it's tantamount to a salary reduction," Member Steve said, arguing the commission should use CPI as a neutral basis. Member Karen added that a 25.6% compounded CPI since 2020 would lift the mayor's pay into the low-to-mid $180,000s in round numbers.

Commissioners agreed a salary change would be timed to take effect for the next elected mayor (the commission noted the next mayoral term begins in 2027) so that raises would not apply to the sitting officeholder. Staff were asked to calculate Urban Alaska CPI for 2021—2026 (and estimate 2026) and to draft a resolution with a provisional number that can be adjusted when final CPI and payroll-system rounding figures are confirmed.

The date for a public hearing and final action will be set once staff returns the CPI and payroll details; members discussed scheduling a follow-up meeting in early to mid-August to allow public notice and input.