Springs Councilman Wants $90,000 Pay Boost
A city councilman is proposing a $90,000 pay raise for Colorado Springs council members. Tim Leigh said being on council is a full-time job and members are underpaid.
“You have nine very well intended, part-time people working full-time running a multi-billion dollar corporation,” said Leigh. “That’s just not a logical way to do business.”
Council members currently make $6,250 a year. Leigh and other council members told us that even though the position is called “part-time” they put in 40 to 50 hours a week doing research, attending meetings and answering emails. Leigh suggested a $96,000 salary for council members, the same as the strong mayor.
“If the job is equal to the workload that’s being carried by the mayor, then I think the salaries ought to be equal,” said Leigh.
KRDO Newschannel 13 looked at council salaries in cities with similar populations to Colorado Springs. In Atlanta members make $39,473, in Virginia Beach salaries are $28,000 and in Raleigh $10,000.
Leigh said he intentionally pitched a high figure.
“What I’m really trying to do is start a community conversation,” he said. “I don’t believe for a minute that anybody’s going to jump up and want to start paying council members $96,000.”
Leigh said he wants to get feedback from citizens and then bring an initiative to council before his term is up. The council and mayor would have to agree to put a measure on the ballot, and then voters would have the final say. We talked to other council members and found out Leigh may be hard-pressed to find support.
“I certainly knew what I signed up for when I ran,” said Val Snider. “I knew what the council salary was and the responsibilities, so I’m certainly not in favor of raising the salaries at this time.”
Council President Scott Hente said he voted against putting the issue on the ballot several years ago.
“It’s always bothered me when politicians get elected to office and then ask for more money,” said Hente.
Hente said he believed council could find money in the city budget for bigger council salaries, even though he is against doing it.
