Crystal City Council unanimously approves first reading of salary increase
The Crystal City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with raising salaries for council members and the mayor for the first time since 2015. The increase aims to account for inflation and establish a more reliable annual adjustment system.
The council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending elected officials' salaries, with all members voting in favor. Council members acknowledged the sensitivity of voting on their own pay but argued the increase is necessary and justified.
City salaries were last set in 2015. A 2017 adjustment method that used general inflation data every other year failed to account for inflation in alternate years, leaving compensation significantly behind. The new ordinance proposes using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)—the same metric used for Social Security adjustments—and would establish annual adjustments going forward.
Council members emphasized that the positions require substantial time and personal expense. Mayor Deshler noted that his annual salary of approximately $12,000 results in only about $664 monthly take-home pay after taxes, with no benefits, car allowance, vacation time, or cell phone stipend. One council member argued that competitive compensation helps attract qualified candidates and fosters competitive elections, which he said "create better representatives." He noted that the part-time wage should help residents justify the time commitment to their families.
The ordinance will require a second reading before final approval. The vote was unanimous, with no dissenting votes recorded.
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Votes (1)
Consider the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Council Salaries
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member John [00:38:11,570] · Seconded by Council Member Tracy [00:38:15,690]
The discussion focused on updating the City Council and Mayoral salaries, which were last set in 2015. The previous biennial adjustment method, based on general CPI, was found to be insufficient as it didn't account for inflation in alternate years. The new ordinance proposes increasing the base salary using the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers), aligning with Social Security adjustments, and instituting an annual adjustment. It also removes outdated statutory language. Council members acknowledged the sensitivity of voting on their own salaries but underscored the significant time, effort, and personal expense involved in their roles, arguing that competitive compensation helps attract a diverse pool of candidates and promotes robust elections.
Notable Quotes (4)
The the base salary, wages, uh, amounts were set last in 2015. Um, in 2017, the council at the time amended the ordinance to set a inflator or a way that would adjust it. It was every other year using the CPI for urban areas, for all consumer goods. Um, that what that did not do is account for any inflation that took place in the alternate years.
And we’ve gone back and take taken the original amount and increase that with the CPI W, which is the annual wage for workers and clerical workers. Um, that’s the same calculator that is used for Social Security increases.
So, you know, speaking for myself, you know, we get like, what do I make 12,000 a year. about that? Then once a month, I like to change in my checking account about $664 because I have extra taxes taken out, because that money on top of. But we you know, there’s no benefits, there’s no car allowance. Um, no vacation, no cell phone. I mean, it’s not like we’re well paid, but you do it because you really love the community and you want to see better things for the community.
But I think that, as John mentioned, just keeping this position up with inflation is important because one thing that we’ve struggled with in, in crystal in the past is making sure we have really competitive elections. I think competitive elections create better representatives. And just by having a kind of a competitive part time council member wage, um, hopefully is the thing that helps. Um, you know, a spouse explained to their other spouse like, hey, this is something I really want to do, and you shouldn’t get really upset at me for being gone three nights out of the week. Uh, because, hey, at least I can help make our car payment this week. Uh, from it.
Ordinances & Resolutions (4)
Proposed amendment pertaining to salaries of elected officials.
Submitted by the City Clerk for approval as part of the consent agenda.
A resident's repeated request for data logs related to Flock cameras, which remains unfulfilled.
A letter from a community group referencing the renewed public records request for Flock camera audit logs.
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Other Topics from This Document
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) / Flock Cameras
Residential Parking Permits and Enforcement
City Council Member and Mayoral Salary Adjustments
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