Council salary panel gets started
This summer, a group of five Spokane Valley residents will consider telling their City Council to take a hike. In pay, that is.
The newly formed salary commission met for the first time Wednesday to study whether the $400-a-month council member stipend and $500-a-month mayor stipend are fair for a city of 82,000 people. They asked Deputy City Manager Nina Regor to gather data about how the salaries and responsibilities of council members in other cities compare with those of Spokane Valley’s elected officials.
“No one really gives much consideration that they don’t make very much money for the big job they do,” said commission member and teacher Michele Eickerman.
Council members, including Mayor Mike DeVleming, are required to participate in weekly council meetings. They are expected to attend community events, participate on local governance committees and answer calls from citizens around the clock.
Although Spokane Valley has a council-manager form of government, DeVleming said he logs an average of about 30 hours a week, putting his hourly wage at about $3.85. Two council members said they put in 20 to 25 hours a week, making their hourly wages about $4.10.
The council members are retired, hold other jobs or own businesses. They usually perform their city duties in the morning, at night, on weekends or during breaks in their workdays.
In other Spokane-area cities, council members and mayors earn varied salaries.
• Spokane, population 196,000, pays its council president $3,300 and its council members $1,500 a month. Spokane has a strong-mayor form of government and pays full-time Mayor Jim West $11,400 a month.
• Council members in Coeur d’Alene, population 34,500, earn $700 a month. Coeur d’Alene has a strong-mayor form of government and pays its part-time Mayor Sandi Bloem $2,000 a month.
• Cheney, population 8,800, pays its council members $310 a month. It has a strong-mayor form of government and part-time Mayor Amy Jo Sooy earns $875 a month.
When told of Spokane Valley’s council salaries, resident Kathy Cadwallader, 57, stopped during a walk down Sprague Avenue and said, “I think that’s plenty.
It’s a part-time job, and they chose it. I think politicians on whole are paid way too much.”
The commission members are expected to file any salary changes by Aug. 2.
Once filed, the new salaries become part of the city budget without further action by the council.
If the public disagrees with the changes, the people have 30 days to petition. That would force a public vote in November on the new salaries.
The commission meets again at 4:30 p.m. June 30 at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. Public comment will be taken.