Financial news (Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG — Members of the Parkersburg City Council Finance Committee will meet today to consider proposals to increase elected officials’ pay.

The ordinances listed on the agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting in the executive conference room on the second floor of the municipal building would increase the mayor’s annual salary from $90,000 to $110,000 and change compensation for members of the council to give them $125 per meeting they attend in addition to their base. salary of $6,000.

The committee will also consider a resolution revising the budget to add $27,883 to the municipal sales tax revenue projection, based on first quarter revenue, and transfer that money to budget items to cover these increases from January to June, the end of the financial year.

The salary increases, if referred by the commission and approved on two readings by the full council, would not take effect until the new four-year term begins in January. Under state code, the mayor and council cannot receive a pay raise during their current term, City Attorney Blaine Myers said.

The mayor’s salary was last increased near the end of 2020, from $80,000 to $90,000. Mayor Tom Joyce did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Council President Mike Reynolds said he hasn’t proposed any changes to council members’ pay, which he said was last increased more than 10 years ago, but he appreciate the approach.

“It’s a pay raise, but it will be a pay raise for the board members who are active and who are going to attend meetings,” he said. “We’ve had problems in the past with one or two people not wanting to come to the meeting. »

Reynolds will return in the new term, winning re-election earlier this month alongside Councilwomen Sharon Kuhl, Wendy Tuck and Cathy Dailey and Councilor Chris Rexroad. Councilor Jesse Cottrille and Councilors Bob Mercer and Zach Stanley did not seek re-terms. Councilor JR Carpenter was narrowly ousted by William “Zack” Huffman, who will be joined by councilors-elect Roger Brown and Andrew Borkowski.

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected]