RR Council OKs pay increase for city officials after 2018
But voters will have their say on 2018 ballot
The Rio Rancho Governing Body on Wednesday approved the second reading of an ordinance that would raise the pay of city officials elected in 2018 and after.
But in a new wrinkle, it also adopted a resolution introduced by Councilor Jim Owen to activate a charter review committee to draft another question on pay increases in time for the 2018 municipal election, giving voters an opportunity to voice their opinions before the just-approved increases take effect.
The governing body voted 4-2 in favor of the pay increase ordinance, which would raise the salaries of officials elected in 2018 and after. Councilor Dawnn Robinson and Mayor Gregg Hull were the dissenting votes. Councilor Dave Bency was absent.
The ordinance sets the mayor’s salary at the most current median household income level for Rio Rancho in 2018 as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on 2014 census information, the mayor’s salary will increase from the current $30,402 a year to $59,243.
The annual salary of city council members will be 28 percent of the median household income in 2018, increasing to $16,588. City councilors elected in 2014 (Districts 2, 3 and 5) earn $15,201 annually, while councilors elected this year (Districts 1, 4 and 6) earn $16,127.
The annual salary of the municipal judge will increase from $69,347 to $70,000. The ordinance also requires the governing body to review the judge’s annual salary and approve any adjustment at least 11 months prior to the municipal election.
But the governing body also voted 5-1 in favor of a resolution activating a charter review committee regarding the annual salaries of the mayor and city councilors. Robinson cast the no vote.
Owen said a charter review of the salary issue would honor the fact that voters rejected a charter amendment in March proposing a pay increase for city officials.
“One of the things that came to light was, in the last election, we had a situation where one of the items that was put before the people was rejected,” Owen said. “In honor of the fact that it was rejected, one of the things that I felt strongly about is for us to move forward with the ordinance to change the compensation … that we should, in fact, not just arbitrarily do that, but also make a resolution that we would, in fact, put this on the ballot in the upcoming municipal election.”
According to the resolution, the governing body will create a charter committee to form and place a charter amendment question on the March 2018 municipal election ballot regarding the annual salary of elected city officials.
If voters approve the question, the salaries would be established in the city’s charter at the rate proposed in the amendment, which could be more or less than what was just approved. If they reject the question, the salaries would stay as provided in this year’s approved pay raise ordinance.
Councilor Cheryl Everett said passage of the resolution “speaks to voters who want more options to vote on” concerning salaries for elected officials.
Robinson, in voting no, said the voters had already spoken on the increases in March.
In other business: the governing body:
Unanimously approved the city’s fiscal 2017 final budget, which includes an upward adjustment of $1.7 million in the city’s general fund, reflecting the actual cash balance since the budget was initially approved in May.
Thanked District 5 Councilor Shelby Smith for his time as a councilor. Smith stepped down from his position Friday to assist his parents in Arizona.