AUBURN, Ala. - The official’s salaries were the main topic of discussion prior to the start of Tuesday’s City Council meeting but settled for an ordinance after a public hearing for the final decision.
Councilperson Tommy Davis of Ward 8 was the first to bring the topic to light suggesting the mayor’s compensation should be increased from $16,000 annually to $45,000. This increase would not take effect until the next election in 2022. This would be the first increase in the mayor’s salary since 1998.
“I couldn’t maintain a full-time job doing what the mayor does,” Dawson said. “I don’t see how he does it. He does so much extra representing the city of Auburn all over the state.”
The position of mayor is considered a part-time job, despite the estimated 15-20 hours put into the position each week. Dawson argued that it would be impossible to hold the mayoral position while maintaining another job and therefore the compensation for the position doesn’t add up.
Cities that surround Auburn such as Tuskegee and Phenix City pay their mayors between $25,000 and $35,000 with half the population of Auburn, Dawson said.
The mayor, as well as the council members, are required to pay occupational taxes on their salaries each year. They are also not given benefits such as healthcare. The benefits they are given include a cell phone and refunds for any council related travel.
Connie Fitch-Taylor of Ward 1 along with Beth Witten of Ward 3 brought up the idea that if the mayor’s compensation should be raised, the council members’ should as well. The proposed increase for the council members would be from $7,200 to $14,400 annually.
“We basically are here to do the same job,” Fitch-Taylor said. “Now someone else might do something a little bit different than you, but we’re all putting in the time so if you’re not going to consider, don’t consider for anyone, but if you are going to consider then you need to consider for the whole council.”
Many of the councilmembers made the point that the compensation increase had to be separated from the personalities on the current council. They agreed that the compensation needed to meet the objectives and requirements of the position. Witten said that the current culture is more demanding of its representatives and that needs to be taken into account.
Brett Smith of Ward 4 was very concerned with what the public would think of this increase. Smith proposed that there should be a public hearing in account with the ordinance as it is the taxpayers’ money who supplies these benefits to the city.
“The citizens are our boss,” Smith said. “We answer to them. They’re the ones we’re responsible for and to. That’s one of the things I think all the council would agree. We’re not talking about getting rich off of the income. It’s not about the money, but about the principle. It’s the idea that we knew what we were getting into when we got into it.”
The council voted 8-0 to move the final decision to March 8 in order for an ordinance to be made and a public hearing to be completed.
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