Salt Lake City

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Salt Lake City Council Compensation Considerations & Options

The Council is considering compensation changes for Council Members. The Council held discussions about compensation adjustment options during its meetings Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10. 

For more information and background on this topic, please refer to the questions and answers below and read the Council staff report, which is linked at the bottom of this page.

How is Council Member pay determined now? 

Currently, City ordinance defines Council Member pay at 25% of the Mayor’s salary. As the legislative body, the Council can amend the ordinance. 

How much money does a Council Member make?  

Council Members currently make an annual salary of $52,941. Council Members are entitled to benefits similar to those received by full-time City employees, such as health insurance, term life insurance, and retirement benefits. They may also purchase dental coverage or other health benefits.

Why is a salary adjustment being considered? 

Some Council Members believe the 25% standard does not accurately represent the time they spend fulfilling their Council duties. Others may believe an adjustment is unnecessary and the current salary is appropriate for the position’s responsibilities. 

When was the last time the Council received a compensation adjustment?  

In 2024, during the adoption of the FY25 budget, the Council approved a market-based salary increase for the Mayor and City Council Members. This increase brought Council Member salary to $52,941 annually. 

Before this, the last significant time the Council addressed Council Member compensation was in 2018, when it voted to make its salary 25% of the Mayor’s salary. At that time, Council Member compensation increased from $26,291 to $35,925 annually. In the time since, Council Members, like other City employees, have received standard annual cost-of-living adjustments as part of the City’s annual budget. 

How many hours do Council Members work in a given week? 

A Council Member’s position is considered a part-time role. However, there is no current expectation for the number of hours worked. Each council member determines the number of hours they work based on individual availability and participation in various committees or leadership roles.  

In addition to attending Council meetings, what else does a Council Member do?  

 Among its other responsibilities, a Council Member might typically spend their time: 

  • meeting with residents and community groups 
  • attending community council meetings 
  • advocating for the interests of the City during the State legislative session 
  • attending conferences and other travel to gain insights that can benefit Salt Lake City 
  • speaking at or attending community events 
  • serving on various boards and commissions to represent community interests as determined by state law or Council policy 
  • meeting with City staff to discuss projects or other matters 

The official role and duties, which involve exercising the legislative powers of city government, are explained in more detail on the Council’s website

Could the Council decide to change its role to full-time?   

A vote by SLC residents would be required to make the role of a Council Member a full-time position.

Does the City Council have its own staff?  

The Council Office manages the legislative functions of the SLC government. The Council’s support staff includes an Executive Director and 39 staff members. Staff member roles vary from scheduling meetings to analyzing public policy, communications, constituent services, and more. The Council Office is independent, neutral, and nonpartisan, serving all seven Council Members equally.  

Each Council Member is assigned a full-time constituent liaison dedicated to addressing community concerns and ensuring residents receive a high level of service. 

How does Salt Lake City Council Member salary compare to other City Councils? 

The salaries of other part-time Councils vary widely. The Council Staff Report will include samples of other City Councils and will be posted to this site at least 24 hours before the briefing.

Next steps

The City Council will continue to explore proposals, and may schedule follow up discussions when more information is available. 

The Council may consider scheduling a vote at a future meeting, depending on its future discussions and whether additional time is needed to discuss its options. Stay tuned here for updates.

Provide your input

Input may be shared online, by email at council.comments@slcgov.com, or by phone at 801-535-7654. 

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