Winchester Council Votes for Pay Raises
By: Hayley Mason
Updated: December 20, 2012
WINCHESTER, VA- In a unanimous 8-0 vote, the Winchester City Council moved to give themselves major pay raises.
"As the economy changes, lifestyles change and people's attitudes change, we're finding that compensation does mean something to some people," says Milt McInturff, Vice-Mayor of Winchester and a councilman.
Currently, each council member is paid $3,600 per year and the mayor is paid $4,800 per year.
"As the economy changes, lifestyles change and people's attitudes change, we're finding that compensation does mean something to some people," says Milt McInturff, Vice-Mayor of Winchester and a councilman.
Currently, each council member is paid $3,600 per year and the mayor is paid $4,800 per year.
That somewhat conservative compensation, they say, is a nearly $3,000 hike from a few years ago.
"Just to put it into perspective," says McInturff, "When I started on council four years ago, my compensation was 600 dollars a year."
The city council says, for years, they've been underpaid in comparison to other local municipalities and state salary recommendations. They say they're now finally taking the steps to get adequate pay for the job. They want their compensation to match that of Frederick County Supervisors.
"If we're going to try to replace ourselves in the seat of city council in the future, we've got to make things more attractive for individuals to want to step up to the plate," says McInturff.
The council also agreed health benefits should be added, and the council president should be paid the same as the mayor.
Starting July 1, 2015, each councilor would make $9,000 a year and the mayor and council president would earn $10,800 a year. The compensation increases total about $85,000. Only about half of the current council members will see the change as their terms will be over when it takes affect.
After a recent election with just one seat contested, they hope these changes will encourage more people to run for ofice in the future.
"Just to put it into perspective," says McInturff, "When I started on council four years ago, my compensation was 600 dollars a year."
The city council says, for years, they've been underpaid in comparison to other local municipalities and state salary recommendations. They say they're now finally taking the steps to get adequate pay for the job. They want their compensation to match that of Frederick County Supervisors.
"If we're going to try to replace ourselves in the seat of city council in the future, we've got to make things more attractive for individuals to want to step up to the plate," says McInturff.
The council also agreed health benefits should be added, and the council president should be paid the same as the mayor.
Starting July 1, 2015, each councilor would make $9,000 a year and the mayor and council president would earn $10,800 a year. The compensation increases total about $85,000. Only about half of the current council members will see the change as their terms will be over when it takes affect.
After a recent election with just one seat contested, they hope these changes will encourage more people to run for ofice in the future.
