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Bremerton City Council Considers Cutting Mayor's Salary Amid Election Controversy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Bremerton City Council is set to vote on a measure that would reduce the mayor's base salary from $117,671 to $93,671, effective January 1. The proposal, tabled until budget discussions began, has sparked debate among council members and mayoral candidates. Both Will Maupin and Patty Lent, the two official candidates, have stated that the mayor's salary is of no concern to them. However, the measure, which would also eliminate cost-of-living increases for the mayor, has raised concerns about potential repercussions for future mayors and the five candidates who ran in the primary.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bremerton City Council is considering reducing the mayor's salary from $117,671 to $93,671, effective January 1.
  • The proposed change would save the city $28,000 per year, taking into account benefits.
  • The council can change the mayor's salary on its own, unlike changing the council size, which requires a charter change that would need to go to a public vote.
  • The measure would eliminate cost-of-living increases for the mayor, and future raises would need to be approved by the council.
  • Council President Cecil McConnell argued that the change may not be fair to the five candidates who ran for mayor in the primary, who paid election filing fees based on the salary of the position.
  • McConnell suggested discussing reimbursement to the candidates who filed to run.

Statistics:

  • The proposed salary reduction would cut the mayor's salary by 20.63% ($24,000).
  • The city would save $28,000 per year by lowering the salary, according to documents supporting the amendment to the city code.
  • The five candidates who ran for mayor in the primary paid election filing fees based on the salary of the position.
  • The city attorney informed the council that the next time it could lower the mayor's salary was before the 2011 election, due to state constitutional restrictions.

Sources:

  • "Bremerton City Council to consider cutting mayor's salary." Kitsap Sun, Oct. 19.
  • "City Council cuts mayor's salary." http://www.kitsapsun.com/ (Copyright (c) 2009, Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, Wash.)

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