Pay hike for Erie City Council members heads to final vote

A.J. Rao, Erie Times-News
·2 min read
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Erie City Council moved one step closer Wednesday to approving a pay increase for its members.

In a 4-1 vote, council approved a first-reading ordinance that seeks to boost the annual pay of City Council members based on time served, beginning in 2024.

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Salaries would be:

  • $6,000 for members who've served 12 months or less;

  • $8,000 for members who've served between 12-24 months;

  • $10,000 for members who've served between 24-36 months; and

  • $12,000 for members who've served 36 months or more.

The council president would receive an additional $2,000 annually.

The increase, if approved in a final vote, would take effect in January 2024 for those elected to City Council this coming November. It would take effect in January 2026 for those who win council seats in November 2025.

First-term City Councilwoman Jasmine Flores proposed the raises because council members have not seen a pay increase since 1986. Council members earn $6,000 annually.

Jasmine Flores is shown at the Erie Times-News on March 26, 2019.
Jasmine Flores is shown at the Erie Times-News on March 26, 2019.

At an August council meeting, Flores argued that a pay increase was warranted, given the amount of work and study that council members put in.

"This job needs to be compensated better," said Flores, a direct support professional at Supportive Living Services, an Erie nonprofit that assists clients with developmental disabilities.

Flores also argued that low compensation for an elected position that requires full-time commitment in terms of preparation, community appearances, meetings and other obligations likely keeps many qualified candidates from considering a City Council run.

Voting in favor of the ordinance Wednesday was Flores, along with council members Michael Keys, Chuck Nelson and Maurice "Mo" Troop. Councilman Ed Brzezinski was the sole nay vote.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie City Council advances pay hike ordinance to final vote