Three former Dallas mayors, Mike Rawlings, Tom Leppert, and Ron Kirk, have expressed their support for proposed pay raises for City Council members and the mayor in an editorial. The Charter Review Commission had initially recommended larger raises, but the current proposal would increase council member salaries by 50% from $60,000 to $90,000 a year and raise the mayor’s salary from $80,000 to $110,000. The last pay raise for elected leaders was 10 years ago, and the former mayors argue that the salaries should be adjusted to reflect the increased cost of living.
One point of contention is the provision that would tie the salaries of elected leaders to automatic adjustments for inflation, a benefit that city employees do not receive. Voters will have the final say in November on whether these pay raises will be approved. The proposed pay raises are part of 15 ballot propositions that the Dallas City Council is considering sending to voters. Additionally, the council approved a proposition to move City Council elections to November when turnout is typically higher than in May.
The former mayors believe that the proposed pay raises are warranted due to the increased responsibilities and dedication required of elected officials. They argue that adjusting salaries to keep up with the cost of living is necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve the city. Voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on these proposed changes in November.
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