Citizens to have say in officials’ salaries

City of Gig Harbor to establish a salary commission

Paige Richmond

of the Gateway

Being an elected official doesn’t pay — or at least, it hasn’t paid much for the past decade.

It’s been 10 years since the City of Gig Harbor’s mayor and city council members have received a pay raise, but that could change soon. The city is recruiting citizens this week for a salary commission that will review elected officials’ salaries later this year.

Mayor Chuck Hunter currently makes $923 a month, and each of the seven council members make $254 per month — amounts that could go up or down depending on the commission’s recommendations.

The salary commission idea was first presented by City Administrator Rob Karlinsey at the July 14 city council meeting. After pointing out that salaries have gone unchanged despite an increased workload, Karlinsey said there are two ways for council members and the mayor to adjust their salaries: They could either adopt their own increases, which could be implemented upon re-election, or they could establish a salary commission to set a compensation level that could be implemented sooner.

If the latter is the case, the council and mayor would have no influence over salary commission members.

Most of the council supported the idea of reviewing their salaries, although there was some discussion among council members as to whether or not a salary increase would be necessary.

Council member Jim Franich said he doesn’t want serving on the council to become “a secondary income,” because he would prefer that people run for office based on community service.

An annual 3 percent salary increase, council member Ekberg said, would also be a simple solution that the council could implement without needing a commission.

“I think it’s nice to get it out of our hands,” council member Paul Kadzik said, stating his support for the commission.

Ultimately, the council approved the new salary commission at its July 28 meeting. Council member Tim Payne said he “trusts the citizens” to review his salary.

How much the commission will change officials’ salaries is unknown. It’s even possible the commission, which will be appointed by Sept. 10, could decrease the mayor and council’s pay.

To help make that decision, the commission will look at a study released earlier this year by the Association of Washington Cities that compares salaries statewide. In some cases, the salaries of Gig Harbor’s mayor and council, who serve 6,780 residents, are on par with cities of similar size.

For example, Selah, with a population of 6,935, pays its mayor and council members $520 and $255 per month, respectively. Liberty Lake, with a population of 6,580, pays its mayor and council members $750 and $250 per month.

But in Milton, where the population is only 10 percent smaller than Gig Harbor, the mayor and council members make about 40 percent more.

The study does not differentiate between cities where officials are employed full-time or part-time, and it doesn’t take into account any challenges currently facing the city government or how many members are on the council.

Those factors will be considered by the salary commission in the coming months.

For more information, contact the City Clerk at 253-853-7613, e-mail towsleem@cityofgigharbor.net, or call the Executive Assistant at 253-853-7638 or e-mail brekkel@cityofgigharbor.net.

Mayors, council members’ salaries

How much elected officials make varies throughout Washington state.

Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter receives $923 in compensation per month, while Gig Harbor city council members make $254 per month. They serve a population of 6,780, according to a study released earlier this year by the Association of Washington cities.

Some mayors and city councils are paid by the number of meetings they attend. Salaries tend to be higher in cities with larger population. Here’s a comparison of paychecks from nearby cities:

Port Orchard

Population: 8,350

Mayor’s compensation: $1,446 per month

Council members: $500 per month

University Place

Population: 31,300

Mayor’s compensation: $1,591 per month

Council members: $1,327 per month

Tacoma

Population: 201,700

Mayor’s compensation: $6,625 per month

Council members: $1,655

Steilacoom

Population: 6,220

Mayor’s compensation: $750 per month

Council members: $300

Be on the commission

The salary commission will have five members appointed by Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter and confirmed by the City Council. Three commissioners will serve four-year terms; two will serve for two years.

Residents interested should send a cover letter and resume to the City Clerk’s Office either in person, by U.S. mail, or by e-mail by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

Reach Reporter and Columnist Paige Richmond at 253-853-9243 or by e-mail at paige.richmond@gateline.com.