Washington City Council alderpersons will not receive pay raises that would have started in 2029.
Council rejected the proposal Monday by a 4-2 vote.
Alderpersons currently make about $3,200 annually. Based on a projected 3.5% cost-of-living increase, the salary would have risen to about $3,300 in 2029.
Pay for the next three years also would have been determined by the cost-of-living.
"I'm voting 'no' for this only because I didn't even know [the alderperson position] did pay [when he was elected], and I don't think it's necessary to pay, so it's not necessary to do the raise," said Alderperson Bobby Martin III.
John Blundy, Paula Johnson and Mike McIntyre also voted "no." Michael Ernst and Jamie Smith cast the "yes" votes. Brandon Moss and Todd Sluder did not attend the meeting.
City Administrator Jeff Fiegenschuh proposed the pay increases, which were not slated to go into effect until 2029 because of the city's election cycle. Fiegenschuh also recommended pay increases for the mayor, city clerk and city treasurer that begin in 2029. Each was passed Monday by the council, but not unanimously.
The mayor's salary will increase from about $14,450 to $16,000, then increase by the cost-of-living for three years after that. The council vote was 5-1, with Martin casting the only dissenting vote.
The clerk's salary will be about $77,400 in 2029, up from about $67,400 currently. Raises the next three years will be based on the cost-of-living. The vote was 5-1, with Blundy casting the "no" vote.
The treasurer's salary will go up from about $13,250 to $14,000, with raises for the next three years based on the cost-of-living. The vote was 4-2, with Martin and Ernst voting "no." Stevens added a fifth "yes" vote to ensure the needed super majority.
Fiegenschuh's pay increase recommendations were geared to 2029 because new terms for the mayor, four of the eight council members, city clerk and city treasurer begin that year.
The city administrator was not at Monday's meeting because he's on vacation, but he talked about the proposed pay increases at a previous meeting.
"I know [raises for the mayor and alderpersons] can be politically touchy with people, and I know people don't get into public service for the pay," he said.
"But they do deserve pay because they put a lot of work in and it's sometimes a thankless job. All these raises would not have a significant impact on the city's budget."
