After three public hearings collecting input and holding open forum with local citizens, the city of Sun Valley approved a pay raise for its mayor, while the City Council voted to keep its salary the same.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the mayor will earn $21,000 per year, and council members will continue to earn $12,000 per year. The mayor currently makes $18,000 per year. The ordinance initially sought to raise council members' salaries to $15,000. Raises for city officials can only be placed on an agenda during election years.
"I look at salaries as the anticipated work to be done," said Mayor Jon Thorson. "And I look at the city as a billion dollar enterprise that needs to be run responsibly and effectively."
The council and mayor have stated the goal of increased salaries is to ensure quality people run for office in the future and that money—or the loss of money a councilperson faces when in office as opposed to working in the private sector—will not be the deciding factor in a decision to enter public service.
Council members did vote to reinstate a $350 a month wellness benefit, an addition that appeared to cause one council member frustration. The wellness benefit is money intended to go toward a council member's gym membership or other health related recreational activity.
"I have refused to take it the last two years," said Councilman Nils Ribi, who voted against the reinstatement. "This is just an additional $350 in council members' pockets."
The city looked to Hailey and Ketchum as indications of what comparable municipalities are paying. Hailey is also in the midst of council compensation discussions and in August will take action that could raise the mayor's salary from $18,500 to $19,080 and council compensation from $6,180 to $9,600. If adopted the changes would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008. Ketchum City Council members make $15,000 per year.
"I find the mayor is grossly underpaid," said Councilman Blair Boand.
Boand went on to say that capping the amount a candidate can spend on an election would be a better way to encourage citizens to become involved in local government, an idea first raised by Sun Valley resident and former council member Kevin Laird and elaborated on by Councilman Lud Renick.
"The open seating drives up election costs," Renick said, referring to elections in which candidates don't run against a particular candidate but in an at-large field.
Councilman Dave Chase agreed.
"If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys," he said.
Chase made the motion to amend the ordinance to exclude the City Council from a pay raise.
