AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- As the Austin City Council zeroes in on the final version of next year's city budget this week, council members are set to consider giving themselves a raise for the first time in years.
According to a budget amendment and related ordinance put forth by Austin Mayor Steve Adler, the last time elected officials' compensation was updated was in 2006, apart from annual cost of living increases.
Currently, each council member makes $83,158 annually, while the mayor earns a base salary of just over $97,000.
In addition to Mayor Adler, council members Leslie Pool, Ann Kitchen, and Sabino "Pio" Renteria have signed on to co-sponsor the proposal.
If approved, the increased salaries would go into effect in January 2023. Each council member's salary would rise to $116,688 - a roughly 40 percent increase. The mayor's salary would also rise to $134,191 annually, or about a 38 percent increase.
The proposed increases come from a market study of similar elected positions across the area and state. According to Adler's proposal, the increase would amount to roughly $270,000 annually.
Each member also gets a $5,400 annual vehicle allowance and phone allowance. The proposal also calls for council members to be eligible to participate in the city's retirement system.
Council is set to begin final deliberations on the budget Wednesday, with final approval expected by Friday.
