City Council Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Consideration of Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1093 Amending Section 2-66 of City Code Relating to 2027 and 2028 Mayor and City Council Compensation.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers a motion to approve Ordinance No. 1093 - Amending Section 2-66 of the City Code Relating to Council Compensation.
Summary Report:
The first reading was approved at the May 19, 2026 Council Meeting on a 6-1 vote. This ordinance would increase the Mayor and City Council salaries by 4.0% commencing January 1, 2027 and another increase of 3.0% commencing January 1, 2028. The proposed 2027 budget impact for the Mayor and Council would be an additional expense of $3,021 over 2026. The proposed 2028 budget impact for the Mayor and Council would be an additional expense of $2,355 over 2027.
At the May 19th meeting Council discussed the timing and appropriateness of adjusting Mayor and City Council compensation prior to an election, recognizing both the benefits and concerns associated with the proposal. Some members noted the value of maintaining a more consistent and predictable practice of incremental wage adjustments tied generally to employee compensation trends, rather than allowing compensation discussions to become infrequent or highly politicized. Discussion also included recognition of the significant time, responsibility, and public service commitment involved in serving in elected office, as well as the importance of ensuring compensation levels do not unintentionally create financial barriers that could limit who is able to serve in local government.
At the same time, councilmembers also acknowledged the broader financial pressures facing local taxpayers. Members recognized that any increase carries a public cost and emphasized the importance of balancing fair compensation with sensitivity to current community economic condition...
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