In the face of pushback by citizens, a proposed pay raise for the mayor and the city council has been struck down.
At the Nov. 10 regular meeting, the Taylor City Council voted 3-2 against Ordinance 2022-43, which would have raised the pay for city leaders from $25 dollars to $1,200 per month for council members, and from $25 to $1,500 month for the mayor’s position.
“I honestly think we have to serve the citizens,” said District 4 Councilman Robert Garcia, who changed his mind from his original vote in favor of the increase, joining District 2 Councilman Mitchell Drummond and At-large Councilman Dwayne Ariola in their opposition. “I would agree that a committee should be formed.”
Though there has been a consensus both online and at the meetings that some kind of a pay increase is needed, a large contingent of constituents showed up to the meeting with printed signs saying “Vote No” to voice their opposition to the increase without citizen input.
“The council giving itself a raise is against modern customs,” said Taylor resident Michael Roberts. “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.”
Other speakers who came up to the podium complained that citizen input was being ignored, that Georgetown’s model for the increase was unsuitable for Taylor due to its smaller budget and size, that the increase was being fast-tracked, that the proposed increase was not discussed during the budgeting process, and that the increase could have funded salaries for public safety or animal control, among other concerns.
However, Janetta McCoy, who has lived in Taylor since 2010, came up to the speak surrounded by several likeminded people, offering an alternative view, applauding the council for its work and urging them to make the positions compensated fairly.
“The current stipend of $25 a month is kind of silly,” she said. “It suggests to me to serve on the council you have to have substantial resources. How fortunate we are that you five have been in a flexible work environment that allows you to do this.”
Though the motion failed, Mayor Brandt Rydell said the issue would be revisited at a later time.
For more details on the meeting, read about it in the Sunday edition of the Taylor Press.
