Norfolk County councilors have decided to forgo an increase in salary and benefits for 2023.
Councilors, as part of their budget deliberations, voted to not accept a scheduled increase for 2023. The resolution, expected to ratified by county council on Jan. 25, also calls for councilors to revisit the increase during their 2024 budget deliberations.
Mayor Amy Martin, who earns $87,580 annually, was scheduled to receive a salary and benefits hike of $3,400 this year. Ward councilors earn $38,393 annually and were due for a $1,500 boost in salary and benefits.
Martin said she understood that some councilors may not want to add the remuneration increase to the levy this year given inflation and the impact of the pandemic. It’s a way of showing the community that everyone has something to give during a difficult budget year.
But the decision has implications for the future.
“My concern is that we’re not maintaining a competitive wage for those who will be sitting around this table when we’re no longer here,” Martin said. “We want competent, innovative community-minded individuals on council.
“Sometimes that means young people and if the position doesn’t pay well they’re not going to step forward.”
Martin said the position of councilor can be a full-time position and then some.
The mayor said she doesn’t want to see the wages fall so far behind that Norfolk is no longer competitive with other municipalities.
count. Linda Vandendriescche voted in favor of forgoing the increase in 2023.
“I’m fine with the status quo,” Vandendriescche said. “We’re here to serve the people and I enjoy the job.”
But Vandendriescche also said the job done by councilors is an important one and should be properly compensated.
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