The mayor of Kamas City will now make $125 a week, in addition to the $125 per meeting the city’s mayors have been paid since 1998.
The salary decision follows a survey of city employee salaries last year, which got the city council looking at elected officials’ pay.
The city council voted 4-1 for the mayor’s raise Jan. 14.
“I will say that the mayor and I have had discussions about this over the past few years, and I know the work has changed quite a bit based upon the amount of COVID meetings and things like that that happened in 2020 and 2021, but I would say right now, the $1,000 a month is a pay cut for the mayor," said Councilmember David Darcey, who voted in favor.
He pointed out that Kamas doesn’t have a city manager, so Mayor Matt McCormick takes care of administrative duties, such as processing permits and other things that don’t require a vote. According to Darcey, that takes an average of five to 10 hours each week.
The $125 weekly base wage adds up to $6,500 per year.
According to Transparent Utah, the mayors of Henefer, Oakley and Francis earn roughly the same salary. Coalville Mayor Mark Marsh made $12,000 last year. Data was not available on any per-meeting rate.
Kamas councilmembers also discussed the additional meetings with other cities, leaders or the county which McCormick attends on behalf of Kamas and can charge the city for. They agreed mayors should formally report those and decided on the second meeting of each month.
Councilmember Larry Gines questioned whether all the meetings McCormick attended were “valid.”
“You’ve been pretty quiet. What's your thoughts on this?” Gines asked the mayor. “Are you feeling like we're being fair? I know you feel like you've been targeted.”
The mayor said yes.
“I do feel like I've been targeted,” McCormick said. “I have no problem sharing my meetings, as Dave and Leslie will attest to. I think this idea that you decide whether I charge for a meeting or not is inappropriate. I think that's clear based on what I've reported to whoever has asked me.”
McCormick said he does not take advantage of his position to overcharge the city. In November, he said he went to 28 meetings and charged for 13. In December, he attended 21 meetings, but said he charged the city for nine.
Gines voted in favor of the pay bump; Councilmember Leslie Staples voted against because she thinks the rate should be set on a per-meeting basis.
Councilmembers initially considered monthly salaries for themselves and planning commissioners too, instead of per-meeting rates, but decided against it. Each make $75 per meeting.
The city council has two meetings a month, and the planning commission has one.
“If I choose to not be able to come, I don't want to get paid for it,” Councilmember Jessica Bateman said.
The pay scale increases in more populated municipalities. Summit County councilmembers, for example, make $57,000. Park City Mayor Nann Worel made $78,000 last year.
