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MARSHALL -- Marshall City Council members voted to raise mayor and council salaries by 1.5% in 2027. In discussion at Tuesday's city council meeting, council members and city staff said they thought compensating those positions was important to making it possible for more people to serve in city government.
"It's definitely a controversial topic," said council member See Moua-Leske. "It's always uncomfortable to talk about. But we also have to think about how much time we put in here, and that we care about our community."
The current 2026 salary for Marshall city council members is $7,608.89, and the mayor's salary is $12,029.41.
Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson said past practice for the city has been to tie mayor and council salary increases to the same rates by which city employees' pay increases. Employees are projected to get a 4% salary increase in 2027, Hanson said.
Under Marshall's city charter, the council is required to discuss the salaries of the mayor and council members each year at the first council meeting in July. Any changes in pay for the mayor and council cannot take effect until the next year, when new council terms start.
Council member James Lozinski said he was torn between wanting to make sure future council members are compensated, and controlling costs for the city.
"This is a hard one," he said. Marshall was facing a tough budget year in 2027, he said.
Instead of following past practice of approving a 3% increase in mayor and council salaries, Lozinski suggested possibly setting a 1.5% raise.
"I think leaving it to whatever we negotiate with our employees is probably a good baseline to set," said council member Craig Schafer. "Budgets are always going to be called into question about public officials.”
Hanson said a 3% salary increase for the city council and mayor would likely have a "very minimal" cost impact for the city. The mayor and council members do not receive per diems or benefits, she said.
Hanson, Moua-Leske and Schafer all said one of the reasons to offer some compensation for council members was to make it possible for more Marshall residents to put the time and commitment into serving in city government.
"You don't just want well-off, affluent people to run for these positions. You really do want all different income levels and different backgrounds," Hanson said.
"If we don't compensate, we're going to get the same people," Moua-Leske said.
"I make a motion that we go 1.5%. Because I think symbolically, we're asking people who now can't even afford health insurance or food for a raise," Lozinski said.
"That's fair. I'd second that," said council member Amanda Schroeder.
Lozinski's motion to raise mayor and council salaries by 1.5% in 2027 passed 5-1, with Mayor Bob Byrnes casting the vote against.