Some city workers were surprised Thursday by the city’s preliminary, proposed budget, which includes a 150% salary increase for the mayor and city commissioners. If approved, the current annual salaries would increase from $20,000 to $50,000 per year. (The Key West mayor currently makes $22,500.)
By comparison, one city employee told the Keys Weekly, most workers will likely receive a 5% salary increase, with some additional merit raises.
City manager Patti McLauchlin told the Keys Weekly that the proposed salary increase for the city’s seven elected officials was recommended last year by the salary study conducted by Evergreen Solutions consulting company. The study recommended commissioner and mayor salaries between $32,000 and $50,000.
“We didn’t include the recommended increase last year, but the mayor reminded me of it this year,” McLauchlin said on Thursday, July 21. “The commission can say yes or no to it during the budget negotiation process. They could also decide on less of an increase, or decide to spread it out over a few years.”
The proposed budget is likely to change between now and its September approval. The city will hold public budget workshops at 9 a.m. Monday, July 25 and at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 27.
Mayor Teri Johnston said the “last increase to the commissioners’ and mayor’s salaries was in 2011, and the commission then wanted to do it on a four-year glidepath for implementation. In 2011, those salaries went from $8,499 to $11,375. Then in 2012 we went to $14,250. In 2013, we went to $17,125 and we’ve been at $20,000 since 2014.
“The commission has always been very sensitive about these increases for themselves, and actually most of us are going to be termed out soon, so this won’t apply to most of us for long. But I’ve spoken with so many people, young ones, potential city candidates, the ones we need, who can’t see their way to candidacy due to the small pay. Unless someone is independently wealthy or self-employed, there’s really no path to becoming a candidate, and we need to do something to attract other candidates.”
When asked about the potential 150% salary increase, Commissioner Sam Kaufman said, “We should advocate for more gradual salary increases as appropriately determined for each employee, including commissioners. … The City made strides by increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour several years ago. Now, increasing the minimum wage for the lowest-paid employees to $18-$20 per hour should be considered as a higher priority than increasing the salaries of the elected officials, in my view.
“This proposal should also be viewed by looking at the City budget as a whole and understanding its impact on taxes. I understand this proposal is derived from the Evergreen Study conducted in the past year and the desire to attract talented candidates for local public office. Although this is a worthy goal, I would support a more gradual approach over time.”
The city will hold public budget workshops at 9 a.m. Monday, July 25 and at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 27.
