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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City's proposed record budget for the upcoming fiscal year comes as it's "leveling up as a city" — bringing the mayor and City Council's annual pay with it.
The proposed $475.2 million general fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year represents a 5.9% increase from last year's record budget and includes a proposal for a 26% pay increase for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and City Council members. If the proposal is approved, the mayor's annual pay would jump to nearly $212,000 and part-time councilmembers to approximately $53,000.
The budget proposal also calls for a 5% raise for city employees.
Mendenhall leads the "most populous city in one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic states in the U.S.," said mayor's office spokesman Andrew Wittenberg. He said the "base pay for the position of mayor in Salt Lake City falls at No. 28 among city leaders across Utah — paying less than city managers or city administrator positions in smaller cities."
The adjustment is meant to address a pay disparity in comparison with the state and within Salt Lake City. The mayor's position has not had a "market rate adjustment in at least 10 years," according to Wittenberg.
Since Salt Lake City does not have a city manager, the mayor serves in a similar capacity as the city's executive.
The outlined adjustment grew some criticism in Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"(It's) way more than what our teachers make, our doctors make. What is she doing other than camp abatements and moving your constituents away from their temporary housing with camp abatements?" said resident Riley Hewlett.
The proposed increase would bring the mayor's pay to ninth among Salt Lake City's own cabinet and to ninth among other city leaders in Utah, according to Wittenberg. "There is no new financial impact to residents with this shift."
The City Council will hold another public hearing about the proposed budget before it is finalized on June 4, ahead of the June 30 deadline. The start of Utah's fiscal new year is July 1.
