Huber Heights council to vote on first pay increase since 1997

Huber Heights City Council will vote on a pay raise next month. Members have not seen raises since 1997. CONTRIBUTED

Huber Heights City Council will vote on a pay raise next month. Members have not seen raises since 1997. CONTRIBUTED

Huber Heights officials will vote on a pay raise for the mayor and city council members in May after more than 20 years of the same rates.

The council will vote May 13 about a pay raise that would not go into effect until members are elected to new terms.

Under the plan, city council members would be paid $675 per month, up from the current $300 per month. The last time city council received a raise was in 1997, when pay increased by $50.

The mayor would be paid $1,000 per month under the plan, compared with $621 now. The mayor’s salary has not increased since it went into effect in 1985.

The raise must be approved by June 1, according to Huber Heights charter. An increase or decrease to the salaries of council and the mayor can only happen on the in odd years between Jan. 1 and June 1, according to city rules.

The increase will not go into effect until January 2020 for five council positions and until January 2022 for the other four council positions, according to Clerk of Council Anthony Rodgers.

“It doesn’t affect me or current members of council unless we run for re-election,” said Mayor Jeff Gore.

The mayor’s term is up in 2022.

The city had discussed a pay raise in 2017, but nothing developed from there, Gore said.

Gore proposed the raise as a way to potentially attract residents to run for council, especially younger residents that might want to serve their communities but would need extra financial help.

The council and mayor agreed to allow the legislation to go through three readings before approval or denial of the raises, using the time to get comment from the public.

The council has not heard very many public comments, Rodgers said.

The current Ohio Public Employees Retirement System established minimum salary for a full year of service is $660 per month, officials said.

The council meeting for the vote will be at 7 p.m. on May 13 at 6131 Taylorsville Road in Council Chambers. It is open to the public.

Officials said if residents have questions or concerns, they should contact Rodgers at 937-237-5832.

About the Author