City Council and Mayor Reject Salary Increase

Golden Valley's City Council members have rejected a proposed salary increase for themselves.

City staff had proposed a salary increase equal to the average salary or wage increase for non-union city employees over the previous two years. Both the Mayor and the council rejected the proposal at Tuesday's City Manager's meeting, stating that they felt their compensation was fair in comparison to other towns. 

Currently, council members earn $8,696 dollars and the mayor earns $11,619—levels that have existed since 2004. City code requires the Council to review their salaries every two years, and staff had proposed increases of 1.5 percent, which would have brought the salaries up to $8,826 for council members and $11,793 for the mayor.

Though council members noted they made much less in benefits than non-union city employees, particularly with health insurance. But they expressed sentiments that with a state government shutdown looming, it would be irresponsible to give themselves pay raises.

There was also concern review salaries just before members must file for council elections would be too politically potent.