SNELLVILLE – The city council approved a proposal Monday that would raise the salaries of the mayor and councilmembers for the first time in 35 years.
The increases will go into effect after the November 2019 election, meaning current councilmember salaries will not increase unless they are re-elected, as mandated by Georgia law. Some current councilmembers do not face re-election until 2021 and would not receive a pay increase unless they are voted back into office.
Under the new ordinance, the mayor's salary would increase from $6,000 to $12,000 and councilmember salaries would rise from $4,000 to $8,000.
Councilwoman Cristy Lenski proposed the change, noting the population of the city since the last increase in 1983 has doubled and the duties and the responsibilities of mayor and council have increased. Lenski also said an increase in salary will attract better-qualified candidates in future elections.
The new salaries were calculated after city officials reviewed the salaries of the mayors and councilmembers of other similarly sized municipalities.