Denver City Council President Chris Herndon took over council leadership in July 2014. He’s shown with Judy Montero, the president pro tem, and outgoing president Mary Beth Susman. (Photo provided by Amanda Schoultz)
Tuesday morning, a Denver City Council committee will wade into the tricky political waters of setting city elected officials’ salaries — including for the mayor and council members — for the first time in four years. For the overview, .
In 2011, the process turned into a circus. The proposal bounced back and forth from a committee to the council floor a couple times, and stretched over several weeks, before the split council ultimately decided 8-5 to boost all officials’ pay by 6.6 percent. It delayed the increases from taking effect, with a portion implemented in 2013 and the rest last year.
Here they are again, and with an election coming up May 5, some council candidates hoping to join the body are staking out opposition to the proposal to grant up to 10.3 percent raises. (More on that below.)
If the maximum raises allowed under the city’s formula were adopted, the proposal would set salaries for incoming officials’ terms in July at $171,197 for the mayor, $148,061 for the auditor and the clerk and recorder, and $91,915 for council members (with the president making $11,000 more).
With six of the 13 council members not running for re-election this year, it’s unclear what the full council ultimately will decide.
Robin Kniech, an at-large councilwoman, chairs the Finance and Services Committee that will kick off discussion on the issue at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. She predicts a smoother and quicker debate this time.
For one thing, in 2011, the process was complicated by the fact that a few council members were running for mayor, including eventual winner Michael Hancock.
Kniech says she’s not ready to commit to a specific amount for raises but disagrees with a couple colleagues who think none are merited.
“I certainly do believe that increases are appropriate, just as with our city employees,” she told me Monday. “I would expect it would be more straight-forward this time. We had three council members running for mayor last time. I would expect we will have a very lively debate. Most want to get it done.”
Since The Denver Post first reported the salary increase proposal on Friday, a couple council candidates have come out against it.
Kevin Flynn, who’s among several potential candidates for the open District 2 seat in southwest Denver, noted in a news release Sunday that council salaries already are much higher than the average household income in Denver. He’s a former Rocky Mountain News reporter.
“With many of Denver’s working families still struggling in the aftermath of the recession,” he said, “this just feels wrong. A 10 percent raise sends a message that is out of touch with the reality out in our neighborhoods. The current salary level is plenty sufficient for the position.”
Southeast Denver’s Kendra Black, running for the District 4 seat, : “Regarding the proposal to raise Denver elected officials’ salaries by 10%, I am opposed and will urge members of this Council to vote NO. Too many Denver families — including those of city workers — are struggling in this economy.”
