Basalt Town Council members are paid less than people in similar positions with other towns in the Roaring Fork Valley. Council members are now looking at increasing their pay. The review comes with an April election on the horizon.
If approved, Basalt Town Council members would go from being paid $9,600 a year to $12,500. That’s a more than 30 percent pay raise, which would apply to the mayor as well. Pay for that position would go from $14,400 to $18,750 annually.
“And the thing I would urge you to think about is, this is about the position, it’s not about the people in the office,” said Town Manager Mike Scanlon at the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night. “It’s about the position, of town councillor and mayor, and what they should be compensated.”
Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to consider the proposal and have a public hearing later this month. If approved, the hike would go into effect for new council members chosen in the April 5 election, affecting four positions. Those running for re-election — or for the mayor’s post — are Jacque Whitsitt, Rick Stevens, Rob Leavitt and Herschel Ross. A pay raise would not apply to three town council members in the middle of their term: Mark Kittle, Bernie Grauer and Gary Tennenbaum. The last pay increase for Basalt’s Town Council was in 2008.
