MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council voted to raise salaries for their positions and the city treasurer so they would earn just enough monthly to meet the requirements for earning a full year’s credit with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) each year.
The salary increases would not become effective until 2022 when the next terms for council members begin under the ordinance approved Monday night.
Salaries for council members and the city treasurer would increase to $9,059 in 2022. The council currently gets paid $8,378 per year, and the treasurer’s salary is $8,888.
In 2023, salaries for these positions would increase to $9,218.
The increased cost to the city for the nine elected officials’ salaries in 2022 would be $5,619. Another $1,431 would be added in 2023.
Since the council serves two-year terms, no more increases were scheduled. The treasurer, however, serves a four-year term, so council continued raises to $9,379 in 2024 and $9,543 in 2025.
Auditor Terry Scott said with current salaries, the elected officials would reach 94% of the dollar threshold for 10 months that is needed to earn the full credit, with only two months meeting that level. The OPERS credit would be prorated based on that amount.
Tanner Salyers was the only council member to vote against the pay hikes. In a discussion during the April 12 City Council meeting, he said this was a bad time to give themselves a raise. The ordinance was not discussed by council on Monday.
Samantha Scoles, who heads the committee that presented the replacement ordinance, which sets the salaries, said during the April 12 meeting that she would not be on City Council when this takes effect. The City needs to encourage more people to run for office, and this might help, she added.
The City Council is delaying a vote on the pay hikes for two weeks to give city residents a chance to comment on the latest salary changes introduced during the April 12 meeting.
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