December 27, 2018 10:39 PM
(ABC 6 News) -- The Austin City Council Thursday approved an approximately 40 percent pay raise for council members and the mayor, the first pay increase for both in nearly two decades.
The city cited a number of studies showing council member pay lagged behind comparable positions in similar-sized cities across Minnesota. As of 2016, the study said, Austin's mayor made $3,000 less than his counterpart in Albert Lea.
Since 2001, council members have been paid $6,600 annually for their work; that will jump to $9,300. The council member-at-large will see a pay increase from $7,800 to $10,800 and the mayor's pay will jump from $9,000 to $12,600.
Council member Laura Helle, who voted yes to the plan, said it was proposed by a number of council members who are leaving their seats next month, meaning they will not themselves see the increase.
"I feel that the job that the council members and mayor do is an important job, it takes time and we want people in those elected offices to be compensated fairly," Helle said.
The pay increase will take effect on January 1, 2021.