HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN 2022-08-08 Item 1B - Discussion - City Council CompensationCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Finance & Governance Committee
FROM: Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst
DATE: August 1, 2022
SUBJECT: City Council Compensation
ISSUE
Staff is seeking Council direction on Councilmember compensation for the years 2023 and
beyond.
BACKGROUND
City Council compensation is adopted by ordinance and codified at Tukwila Municipal Code
2.05, which currently expires at the end of 2023. The Washington State Constitution prohibits
any salary increase or decrease during the term of office for officials who set their own salary,
so the earliest compensation could be adjusted for any City Council position is 2024.
TMC 2.05 provides that if "at any time the Tukwila City Council compensation rate of increase
falls significantly below the cost -of -living increase," it will be re-evaluated and possibly
adjusted. The current compensation of $1250 per month for all positions has been in place
since 2014. The inflation rate per the Seattle -Tacoma -Bellevue CPI -U has increased $31.91 in
that time (June to June).
Council Compensation since 2002
15
Positions
1,3,5,7
Positions
2,4,6
2002
900
665
2003
950
685
2004
1000
1000
2005
1050
1050
2006
1050
1050
2007
1050
1050
2008
1050
1050
2009
1050
1050
2010
1050
1050
2011
1050
1050
2012
1050
1050
2013
1050
1050
2014
1250
1050
2015
1250
1050
2016
1250
1250
2017
1250
1250
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
2018
1250
1250
2019
1250
1250
2020
1250
1250
2021
1250
1250
2022
1250
1250
Retirement Plan
Per WAC 415-108-570, in order to earn service credit in a state retirement plan, elected
officials must earn at least 90 times the state minimum wage each month. The current
Council compensation rate of $1250 per month has fallen behind. With the increase in the
state minimum wage to $14.49 per hour in 2022, Councilmembers must earn at least $1304.10
per month to earn service credit.
Proposal
Staff suggests that the City Council consider a modest increase to its compensation for four
reasons:
1) To reflect that the cost of living has significantly increased since 2014
2) To more reasonably reflect the time and effort involved in serving as a Councilmember
3) To help encourage diverse members of the Tukwila community to pursue elected
office
4) To resume earning service credits for those participating in a state retirement plan
The table below suggests a monthly increase of $200 per month beginning in 2024 for
positions 2, 4 and 6, and in 2026 for positions 1, 3, 5 and 7. This represents a 16% increase,
roughly half of the actual cost of living increase since the current compensation was adopted
in 2014.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is seeking Committee discussion and direction on compensation past the year 2023. The
earliest any position could be adjusted is 2024. The Council's direction will be incorporated
into the draft biennial budget and an ordinance will be prepared for presentation to the full
Council.
16
Positions 1, 3, 5, 7
Positions 2, 4, 6
Year
Term Ends: 12/31/25
Term Ends: 12/31/23
2023
1250
1250
2024
1250
1450
2025
1250
1450
2026
1450
1450
2027
1450
1450
2028
1450
1450
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is seeking Committee discussion and direction on compensation past the year 2023. The
earliest any position could be adjusted is 2024. The Council's direction will be incorporated
into the draft biennial budget and an ordinance will be prepared for presentation to the full
Council.
16