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April 17th, 2015
San Marcos council members poised to finalize pay raise for San Marcos council members

FROM STAFF REPORTS

After giving the measure initial approval earlier this month, the San Marcos City Council is scheduled on Tuesday to take a second vote on double-digit percentage increases in the compensation its members receive.

Saying their responsibilities have increased in recent years in tandem with the population, a council majority voted on April 7 to raise the mayor’s monthly stipend from $1,200 to $1,700, a 41.6 percent increase, and to raise council members’ monthly stipends from $950 to $1,450, a 52.6 percent increase.

Council members approved the pay raise 5-2 with Jude Prather and Shane Scott dissenting. Mayor Daniel Guerrero and council members John Thomaides, Ryan Thomason, Lisa Prewitt and Jane Hughson voted in favor.

Since becoming a “home rule” municipality in 1967, compensation and expense reimbursement levels for the mayor and council members were established in the city charter and changes required voter approval in a citywide election.

In November 2008, voters approved a charter amendment that grants council members the authority to set their own compensation through an ordinance approved in a public meeting. In November 2009, the council allocated $950 monthly for the mayor and $500 for council members; in 2013, compensation was increased to $1,200 monthly for the mayor and $750 for council members.

Here’s a look at compensation received by council members in other Texas cities:

What other Texas cities pay their city council members

 

Mayor

Council
Austin$6,863/month [1]$5,839/month [1]
Bryan$10/month$10/month
Cedar Park$0/month$0/month
College Station$0/month$0/month
Denton$0/month$0/month
Georgetown$450/month$300/month
New Braunfels$300/month [2]$200/month [2]
Round Rock$1,000/month$1,000/month
San Antonio$3,000/month$80/month [3]
Seguin$750/month$425/month
Victoria$325/month$250/month
Waco$325/month$325/month
[1] Austin mayor receives $82,387 annually ($100,421 with benefits) and city council members receive $70,075 annually ($87,167 with benefits)

[2] New Braunfels mayor receives $75 per meeting and council members receive $50 per meeting. Monthly compensation used in this table based on an estimated average of four meetings per month.

[3] San Antonio council members receive $20 per meeting, not to exceed $1,040 annually. Monthly compensation used in this table based on an estimated average of four meetings per month.
SOURCE: City of San Marcos staff research

CORRECTION: Under the proposal being considered April 20, the mayor would be paid $1,700 monthly and council members would be paid $1,450 monthly. The story orignally had the amounts transposed.

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One thought on “San Marcos council members poised to finalize pay raise for San Marcos council members”

  1. Dang, I wish I could give myself pay raises. A 53% raise seems like an abuse of a ordinance given in good will by the towns people. I call BS on their justification in that their responsibilities have grown with the population. They knew what they were getting into when they ran for office. Take a look at the other cities listed above. Like they have more work than San Antonio ? Laughable.
    Voters need to revisit this amendment.

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