STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — The Stevens Point City Council has approved a small cost-of-living salary bump for the city’s Mayor.
Council members voted 6-4 Monday night to approve the measure, but not without some back-and-forth on the matter let by Alder Tori Jennings.
“I can understand competitive wages for other elected positions where a degree is required or experience specific to that job is required, but I don’t see that with the Mayor’s position,” said Jennings before motioning to deny the agenda item.
Jennings’ motion failed on a vote of 6-4. A subsequent motion to adopt the raise then passed by the same margin.
Jennings also noted that the mayor’s salary is already on the higher end of the city pay scale.
Mayor Mike Wiza noted that the only city position that comes with some sort of hiring requirement is that of the City Attorney, who must be a member of the Wisconsin Bar. Attorney A. Logan Beveridge followed up by saying it could be possible to hire someone that isn’t, but they wouldn’t be able to do the job until they are licensed.
With Monday’s vote, the salary for the Mayor’s position will go from $74,295 in 2018 to $75,038 in 2019. From there the pay is set to go to $77,312 in 2022.
All pay raises will take effect in mid-April. Wiza is up for re-election in 2019, so will not see the benfits of the bump unless he wins next April.
