IF City Council proposes pay raise for elected officials

The Idaho Falls City Council proposed an ordinance, Monday that could increase salaries for the mayor and city council members.

The ordinance would increase city council members’ salaries from $10,000.22 to $12,500 next year and $13,000 by Jan. 2017. The mayor’s salary would also increase from $78,000 to $84,000 next year, and $86,000 by Jan. 2017.

This would be the first time in eight years that the mayor’s salary has been increased and 16 years since salary increases for city council members.

“Our council members put in an awful lot of their time and the relatively minor amount of compensation that we’re asking to direct their way is more than deserved,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper.

“When you compare the responsibility levels and the complexity of what Idaho Falls does as a city for its citizens, it’s very important to maintain a good salary base for the mayor,” said Councilman Ed Marohn.

If the ordinance is approved, Idaho Falls elected officials will be among the top tier throughout the state, with Boise, Nampa and Meridian with the highest compensated officials:

Boise
Mayor – $113.059
City Council Members – $22,799

Nampa
Mayor – $74,432
City Council Members – $24,516

Meridian
Mayor – $82,500 (Current)
-$82,625 (Jan. 2016)
-$90,956 (Jan. 2017, with 5 percent increase annually)
City Council Members – $10,000

Although Boise, Nampa and Meridian are much larger in size, Marohn said these cities don’t have as many responsibilities as Idaho Falls. He explained that the city has to run its own power grid, maintain roads, water and sewer systems among many other services that larger cities have delegated to their surrounding counties or the state.

Casper said the increase will also keep the council competent and socially diverse, as higher wages will attract younger citizens and will allow for more diverse input on city policy.

“Without a sufficient salary, you get two things. The first, are individuals of poor quality, which, luckily, we don’t have here at the city,” Casper said. “The other, is you narrow the pool for people who can do the job. So you end up with more retirees or those who are independently wealthy.”

This decision comes after Friday’s council work session where members clashed over wage increases for city workers. The proposal called a 3 percent raise for all municipal employees. But it employees would also be asked to pay all of the increased premiums on their health plans, which the city estimates as a 10 percent increase from last year.

The council is expected to vote on whether to approve the budget later this month.