Charter change would be placed before voters
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Monday, April 6, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.
City of Spokane Mayor David Condon is renewing calls to discuss how the mayor’s salary is set. Condon is asking the City Council to put a proposed charter change on the next available ballot to transfer authority over the mayor’s salary to the citizen Salary Review Commission.
In November, Mayor Condon proposed his three-part government affordability plan that included overhauling the process for setting the mayor’s salary. Under Condon’s plan, changes would also be made to how the Salary Review Commission (which also reviews and sets salaries for City Council members) is appointed to allow for the mayor and City Council to appoint two members each to the five-member Commission, with the Commission picking the fifth member. The plan would require changes to the City Charter and municipal code.
“Transferring authority over the mayor’s salary to the citizen Salary Review Commission will introduce consistency into the process of setting the salaries of City of Spokane elected officials,” said Condon. “It removes the politics and will allow the commission to take a good look at municipal salaries around the state and determine fair compensation.”
Last year, the Council had asked that the discussion on the Mayor’s plan be postponed until this spring. Mayor Condon plans to ask the City Council later this month to put the proposed Charter change to a citizen vote. Work continues on the other two components of the Mayor’s government affordability plan.
