The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About10.D.1. Elected Official Salaries for 2014-2015 �� General Business 10. D. 1. Sk f.�f�C)t'�_-�:- TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator DATE: 08/07/2013 SUBJECT: Elected Official Salaries for 2014 -2015 Action Sought The Council is asked to consider a salary increase for elected officials for calendar year 2014 and 2015. Background Currently, the Mayor is paid an annual salary of$7,854 and City Council members are paid an annual salary of$6,715. The last time elected official salaries were increased was January 1, 2006, so these amounts will have been in place for eight years. A salary increase was discussed in September of 2011, but at that time the Council opted to make no changes. According to state law, any change in elected official pay must be adopted prior to the governing body's election and take effect after the election, at the start of the new terms. As a result, any increase decided upon now would take effect January 1, 2014. The wages or salaries paid by other metro-cities of similar size is a common and significant factor in establishing what the City pays its part-time and full-time employees. Therefore it seems a logical factor to consider when setting elected official salaries as well. Attachment A lists the populations and elected official salaries of other metro-area cities. The data shows that Shakopee's elected official salaries are clearly below average and that there is less of a difference between the mayor and council salaries here than in other cities. Currently, the mayor earn approximately 15% more than council members. The norm in the metro area is to pay a mayor between 20 and 25% more than council members. In addition to the question of what makes a valid comparison group, the Council should consider: 1. Should the difference between the mayor's salary and council member's salary be greater, as it is in other cities? If so, this would result in a larger increase for the mayor than for council members. 2. Does the Council wish to adopt a single increase or a phased-in approach? The next opportunity to adjust elected official pay will be in the late summer or early fall of 2015, to take effect January 1, 2016. Therefore, any changes desired for 2015 must be adopted now. Over the past eight years, the City has a used a group of 10 cities as a comparison group for setting employee wages. This group includes 5 cities larger than Shakopee and 5 cities that are smaller. Cities were selected by their geographic proximity to Shakopee as well as their stage of development. Using this comparison, as noted on Attachment B, the average mayor's salary is $9,621 and the average council salary is $7,146. If Council finds this to be a valid comparison group for establishing elected official pay, staff would recommend rounding up slightly and setting salaries at $10,000 for mayor and $7,500 for council. Given the infrequency with which Council salaries have typically been adjusted, setting the new amounts slightly above average seems reasonable. Finally, Attachment C presents what elected official salaries would be had elected officials received the same percentage wage increases awarded to non-union staff since 2006. Budget Impact The cost of any salary increase will depend on the exact salary levels established. Funding for any approved increase will be incorporated into the 2014 budget, which is currently under development. Requested Action The Council is asked to decide if a salary increase for elected officials is desired or warranted for 2014, and if so, provide direction regarding the desired salary amounts. A Resolution can then be prepared for formal adoption at the August 20 City Council meeting. Attachments: Attachment A Attachment B Attachment C Attachment A Elected Official Salaries--suburban metro cities over 20,000 population Population City Mayor Salary Council Salary 20,275 South St. Paul 20,427 Golden Valley 20,486 New Hope 20,505 Lino Lakes 21,369 Farmington $8,040 $7,020 21,496 New Brighton $8,600 $7,000 22,139 Rosemount $8,528 $6,396 22,168 Crystal $10,515 $8,088 22,217 Hastings $8,400 $6,000 23,010 Prior Lake $9,420 $7,440 23,223 Champlin 23,247 Chanhassen $6,000 $4,800 23,415 White Bear Lake 23,865 Ramsey $8,000 $6,000 24,002 Chaska $8,208 $6,948 25,118 Shoreview $9,156 $6,792 27,147 Savage $8,000 $6,000 27,515 Fridley 27,538 Oakdale 30,204 Brooklyn Center $11,500 $8,805 30,847 Andover $9,500 $7,500 33,774 Inver Grove Heights $9,000 $7,000 33,807 Roseville $9,300 $7,020 34,828 Cottage Grove $9,216 $6,780 35,376 Richfield $10,379 $8,070 37,652 Shakopee $7,854 $6,715 38,374 Maplewood $12,855 $11,314 45,505 St Louis Park $11,796 $6,708 48,262 Edina $10,348 $7,758 49,801 Apple Valley $11,220 $8,028 50,046 Minnetonka $12,000 $9,000 56,534 Lakeville $9,996 $8,664 58,331 Blaine $13,367 $10,000 60,664 Burnsville $12,000 $8,400 61,151 Eden Prairie $13,500 $10,740 61,766 Coon Rapids $14,000 $12,250 62,436 Maple Grove $14,500 $12,500 63,143 Woodbury $11,004 $8,100 64,456 Eagan $13,624 $10,005 71,263 Plymouth $14,000 $10,146 76,238 Brooklyn Park $17,100 $11,400 83,671 Bloomington $26,400 $12,396 Attachment e Comparison Group historically used for Employee Salaries Population City Mayor Salary Council Salary 23,010 Prior Lake $9,420.00 $7,440.00 23,247 Chanhassen $6,000.00 $4,800.00 24,002 Chaska $8,208.00 $6,948.00 27,147 Savage $8,000.00 $6,000.00 30,847 Andover $9,500.00 $7,500.00 33,774 Inver Grove Heights $9,000.00 $7,000.00 34,828 Cottage Grove $9,216.00 $6,780.00 49,801 Apple Valley $11,220.00 $8,028.00 56,534 Lakeville $9,996.00 $8,664.00 63,143 Woodbury $11,004.00 $8,100.00 36,633 Average $9,156.40 $7,126.00 Attachment C Applying% Increase Awarded to Non-Union Employees Mayor Council 2006 $7,854.00 $6,715.00 2007 3% $8,089.62 $6,916.45 2008 3% $8,332.31 $7,123.94 2009 2% $8,498.95 $7,266.42 2010 0% $8,498.95 $7,266.42 2011 1% $8,583.94 $7,339.09 2012 2% $8,755.62 $7,485.87 2013 2% $8,930.74 $7,635.59 2014 ? ? ?