Council, mayor push for salary increases

The move would make their pay about even with other cities Gulfport's size. They will take a final vote on the issue Tuesday.

By AMY WIMMER

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 30, 2000

GULFPORT -- City Council members may give themselves a raise for the first time in a decade.

The increase would bring the council members' and mayor's salaries to a level just below the statewide average.

The council already gave preliminary approval for the raise and a final vote Tuesday will determine whether the council members receive $200 more a month and the mayor receives $300 more.

Mayor Michael Yakes told the council members at a recent meeting that although many think elected officials' most important work occurs at its meetings, the job actually entails much behind-the-scenes effort.

"It's a tremendous amount of preparation when the job's done right," Yakes said.

The raise would bring the council members' salaries to $600 a month, or $7,200 a year. The mayor's salary would be $800 a month, or $9,600 a year. The City Council approved the raise on first reading April 18 with a 4-1 vote. Council member Larry Cooper dissented.

A study released by the Florida League of Cities in March shows that the average salary for the mayor of a city with 10,000 to 49,999 people is $10,005 a year. The salary for a council member of a similar-sized city is $7,285.

Gulfport City Manager Bob Lee, who said he brought the salary increase plan to the council for consideration, said he had three reasons for suggesting such an increase.

After four pay increases in the 1980s, council salaries in 1989 reached their current level. The mayor receives $500 a month; council members receive $400.

The city charter stipulates that the council may adjust its salary only in even-numbered years and the pay hike must be approved by July 1. If approved Tuesday, the new salaries would take effect Oct. 1.

Council member Jack Olsen said he didn't enter public office for a salary and might not have even realized when he first ran that council members were paid. But he said the council earns its pay.

"The position of mayor, if it's going to be done right, and we're lucky to have a mayor who does, it's a full-time job," Olsen said.

Yakes suggested that after 10 years, it might be time to raise the council's salaries again.

"I always joke and say I hope we keep the salaries up with the cost of the inflation of Rolaids," Yakes said.

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