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    • Buckeye City Council is going to get a raise. Here’s why
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    Buckeye City Council is going to get a raise. Here’s why

    Pabio Posted on

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    Buckeye’s mayor and city council could get a raise for the first time in 20 years.

    The Council adopted a measure Tuesday evening that will ease their path to an increase. Under the new measure, staff will review city council salaries annually.

    The last time salaries were updated was in 2005, Assistant City Manager Doug Sandstrom said. At the time, the mayor’s salary was set at $21,000 and that of the council at $14,400.

    More: How much do mayors and city councils in the Phoenix metro area make? See salaries

    But Buckeye’s population has grown significantly since then.

    In 2000, the town had around 6,500 inhabitants. In 2010, this figure increased to more than 50,000. Buckeye’s population has more than doubled since 2010, with an estimated current population of approximately 112,000, making Buckeye one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

    But despite the city’s growth, councillors’ salaries have remained stagnant.

    With the new system, city staff will look at salaries in comparable cities, defined as cities in the Phoenix metro area with populations greater than 90,000, excluding Phoenix. That’s because Phoenix has a full-time mayor and council.

    After reviewing other salaries, staff will decide one of three things: take the average of salaries across all cities, adjust for cost of living, or leave salaries as is. Whoever is tallest will be chosen, Sandstrom said.

    For this reason, Phoenix has the highest salary, with the mayor’s salary at $88,000, while the council members’ salary is $61,600.

    In neighboring Avondale, the mayor earns about $24,500 a year, while council members earn $12,285.

    Goodyear offers a slightly higher salary, with the mayor earning $30,000 and council members $12,000.

    The first assessment will take place in December and the new salaries will be implemented in January. All subsequent assessments will be done at the same time each year so they are consistent with budget processes, Sandstrom said.

    Future boards will still have the option to halt the process in the event of another recession if cost reductions are necessary.

    The process differs from other cities like Goodyear, which has a citizens’ committee that reviews salaries every two years. If the committee decides on an increase greater than 5 percent, it would have to go to a vote, although that could change with the city’s vote. spring special electionswhich proposes some amendments to the city charter.

    Contact the journalist at [email protected] or by phone at 480-708-1633. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.

    Pabio
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