Mayor, council set to get raises
By Terry Murry on Monday, November 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — The five-member Walla Walla Salary Commission has voted unanimously to increase the compensation paid to the Walla Walla mayor and members of the city council. The mayor would be paid $1,500 per month and members of the city council $1,000 per month. Current compensation was enacted in May 2007 where council members are paid $400 a month, and the mayor is paid $500 a month.
The Salary Commission explained its decision in a letter dated Wednesday, Nov. 3 and delivered to the Walla Walla Walla City Clerk that same day. That night Roger Miles, Chair of the Salary Commission reported to members of the city council.
“We based our decision in part on the estimates offered us by the mayor and members of the city council of the hours per month they devote to fulfilling the duties of their office and in part on a survey of the salaries paid to mayors and city councilors across Washington State in council- manager governed cities of similar size and character”, the letter stated.
In June, several council members voiced support for an increase in compensation, but rather than setting the rate of salary themselves, council unanimously decided to create the salary commission. The five-members of the commission are Roger Miles, chair; Sherrie Kamara, secretary; Lynn Knapp, Beth Kreger, and J. Richard “Dick” Swenson.
At the earliest, the new salaries take effect 30 days from Nov. 3, the day the Salary Commission’s decision was delivered to the Walla Walla City Clerk, as required by state law. Unless the salary increase is challenged by a citizen petition, the mayor and members of the city council would be paid the new salary in early January.
