The Snellville City Council is currently weighing a proposal that would raise the annual salaries of the mayor and councilmembers for the first time since 1983.
Under the proposed ordinance, the mayor’s annual salary would double from $6,000 to $12,000 and councilmembers’ salaries would increase from $4,000 to $8,000. The mayor pro-tempore would receive $10,000.
The increase in salary, proposed by Councilwoman Cristy Lenski, will not go into effect until after the next election in Nov. 2019, as mandated by state law – meaning current councilmembers salaries will not increase unless they are reelected.
“The population of Snellville in 1983 was approximately 9,000,” Lenski said. “Since then, our population has more than doubled, and the duties and the responsibilities of mayor and council have increased as well. Our compensation should reflect this.”
Lenski said an increase in salary will attract better-qualified candidates in future elections.
The new salaries were determined after conducting a review of similarly sized municipalities.
Residents can voice their opinion on the proposal by contacting councilmembers, city staff, or by speaking at the Aug. 13 council meeting when the measure will be up for approval after its second reading.
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