Houston City Council approves modest compensation raise

During the Aug. 8 City of Houston Council meeting, members voted to raise their rate of compensation, but not to the $200 that had been proposed in the original ordinance.

Instead, council agreed to an increase of $25 per regular meeting, bringing the rate of $50 per regular meeting.

Ordinance, 24-10, sponsored by Houston Mayor Carter Cole, sought to increase the compensation for those serving on city council, which was $25.00 per meeting, no matter how long the meeting ran. Cole said it was well past time to adjust the council member pay.

“I’ve reviewed the pay in every city, and ours is by far an embarrassment. You could double it and it would still be an embarrassment,” Cole said during discussions, adding that the Houston council members work just as hard as every other council member.

“I believe workmen’s worth his wages, and that is what I attempted to do.” Cole said it was also his intent to try and bring more interest from residents into serving as council members, noting that two of the three spots for the upcoming election are incumbents running unopposed.

“Part of what I wanted to use this for was to bring additional people interested in that maybe couldn’t afford to do that and this might allow them to do that.”

Former councilman Lance Wilson agreed that $25.00 isn’t much for the work that the council has to do, but that most do not serve to make money either.

“You need to have some type of compensation, give a little consideration for what you do,” he said, noting that with the spike in gas prices and overall cost of living increases, some council members could use the additional funds, but it wasn’t enough for him to support the huge raise.

“I would ask that you consider to reduce the amount of compensation,” Wilson said during public participation, suggesting that instead the compensation could be doubled the current rate, and perhaps use funds for dust mitigation or potholes.

“A man’s labor is worthy of his wages,” said Councilman Kent Mitchell. “I think it’s important that we show people their value. It’s a lot of work that goes into one meeting,” he said, explaining that from the time the members receive their meeting packets to the time the gavel ends the council meeting, the $25.00 ends up being in the range of $2.00 to $4.00 an hour.

“We’re not here to make money, but it is time-consuming. It does take time away from my family and it’s nice to have a little compensation for this.”

Councilmember Lisa Johansen proposed an amendment to change the compensation to $50.00 for regularly scheduled monthly meeting and $25.00 for special meetings and work sessions.

“I believe those numbers are much more manageable…I think that type of range is more realistic for this Type 2 city and the budget that we have,” she said, referring to Houston’s status as a second class city, while Wasilla and Palmer are first class and have significantly higher budgets in which to work

“We’re trying to create this for people in the future. It seems self-serving because we’re essentially asking to give ourselves a raise, but I think there needs to be some step taken to advance this, and this is the compromise,” said Councilman David Childs.

Johansen’s amendment passed unanimously, making the new compensation for council members $50.00 per meeting.