Mayor Paul TenHaken and Carnegie Town Hall graphic.
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) – It’s been 25 years since the Sioux Falls city charter set the salary of the Mayor and City Council.
The City Council tonight approved a change to the city charter raising the salary of the Mayor to $165,000. The amount was reduced from the original proposal after an amendment by Council member Janet Brekke. Because the mayor’s salary is in the city charter, voters will have to approve the increase at the next city election in April.
Council member Marshall Selberg said it’s important to attract talented people to oversee the city, and compensation is a factor. Selberg pointed out that the city’s mayor oversees 1,300 full-time employees, 11 department heads, and an annual budget of $650 million. Selberg also noted that currently many city employees were paid more than the Mayor. Selberg says his proposal is about appropriate compensation based on the responsibilities of the office.
The measure will also increase salaries for the city council. The charter sets the Council’s salary at 15% of the Mayor’s salary.
Sioux Falls voters will have the final say in April.
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