Wasilla council postpones vote on mayor pay increase

WASILLA — The city council voted to postpone setting a new salary for the mayor to allow the administration time to work out the details of a step-level increase matrix for the position.

The current city code sets the mayor’s salary at $75,000 with a 1.5 percent annual increase. Members of the council worry that this no longer attracts the most qualified candidates and are seeking to raise the compensation that comes with the position.

The ordinance before the council Monday night would have called for the council to set the mayor’s pay each year with the only guideline being the mayor must make more than the salary of the highest paid department head.

Worried that this would make salary determination politically divisive rather than a simple administrative function, the council agreed to table the discussion while it explores the option of putting the mayor on a pay scale similar to city employees.

The council should take up the new ordinance at its next meeting on Aug. 24.