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Uintah council debates pay increase ordinance for mayor and councilmembers
Summary
Council members discussed Ordinance 298-25, which would raise monthly pay for the mayor and councilmembers; debate centered on timing, comparison to neighboring cities, and constituent reaction. No final vote was taken at the Oct. 21 work session.
The Uintah City Council discussed Ordinance 298-25, a proposal to raise elected officials' monthly pay, during a work session on Oct. 21, 2025. Council Member Combe said the item had been repeatedly tabled and suggested postponing a final decision until the end of the first quarter of 2026 to allow time to review the budget; he noted the last increase occurred in 2012 and suggested a $150/month raise for the mayor and $100/month for councilmembers.
"Some members of the community have asked us to sharpen our pencils, and others are shocked at how little we make," Council Member Combe said, summarizing constituent feedback. Council Member Roberts said volunteerism is "dead" and described mixed responses from residents, reporting she had received three people opposed and more who supported a raise. Mayor Cutler said he supports compensation increases and cautioned that direct comparisons to larger cities can be misleading because of staffing differences; he noted Marriot‑Slaterville's mayor earns $1,250 per month and said Uintah councilmembers also serve as department heads.
Mayor Cutler also corrected an earlier, misstated figure and pointed to the ordinance back page, which listed $300 for the mayor and $200 for councilmembers, and urged that after repeated tabling the council "either need[s] to pass the ordinance or let it die." Council Member Bell argued that delaying the discussion further would be counterproductive and that, if increases are necessary, addressing them now is a more responsible course.
No formal motion or vote on Ordinance 298-25 was recorded during the work session; the council discussed timing, constituent views, and comparable pay in neighboring jurisdictions. The item remains pending and will require further consideration when the full council is present.
