The change coincides with the council’s expansion from seven members to nine in December. Councilmembers Nino Mangione and David Marks voted against the increase; the other members supported it.

Mangione questioned the timing and process, arguing residents should decide whether elected officials receive a raise. He also pointed to unmet needs in public safety, including police staffing and resources for the fire department and volunteer fire companies.

Councilman Julian Jones said he had served since 2014 and received only one raise of a few thousand dollars during that time, which he said had not kept pace with county employees’ pay.

The council may set its compensation at the end of each term. Its previous raise, approved in 2022, was less than $7,000. The new salaries are below the amounts recommended by the county’s Personnel Salary Advisory Board, which proposed $140,000 for council members and $150,000 for the chair.

A county auditor’s analysis estimated the pay change will add $458,750 annually for the nine-member council. Taxpayer advocate David Williams questioned how officials arrived at the increase and warned that the long-term costs would accumulate over time.

The vote puts the salary increase into effect after the general election, rather than requiring voters to approve it directly. The decision comes as the county prepares to seat a larger council and adds recurring public costs to the next term’s budget.