PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Portsmouth City Council members voted to go forward with pay raises.
The boost will nearly double the salaries of the mayor and council members next year.
Roughly a dozen residents shared their thoughts on the pay raise at a public hearing Tuesday night. The topic divided the people who took to the podium.
“Under the circumstances, I cannot agree to an 88% pay increase," said one speaker.
“These people are working... and I believe that you deserve the raise," said another speaker.
The discussion comes following a recently changed law that allows elected officials’ salaries to increase based on the size of the cities they serve.
Mayor Shannon Glover said this will be the first pay increase for elected officials since 1996. The change will increase the mayor's salary from $25,000 to $47,000. Similarly, city council members’ salaries will increase from $23,000 to $43,000.
While council members only serve part-time, some speakers say their current salary isn’t enough.
“I didn’t know you was making McDonald’s money, and you do deserve more than what you’re getting," said one speaker.
Other residents believe some council members don’t deserve the pay boost.
“If I were an employer, how would I rate you as an employee? I’d love to have a sliding scale that I could use, but I don’t," said one speaker.
Some people who took to the podium didn’t take issue with the raise itself, but the amount.
“You’re asking for $43,000 and $47,000 when most of your citizens make about $30,000; They make less than that," said another speaker.
Following the public hearing, city council members unanimously voted yes to the pay boosts, although it won't go into effect until July 1, 2025. Depending on November's elections, some current council members may not see the raise.
Portsmouth isn’t the only city discussing the change. Hampton City Council will meet to discuss their salaries at Wednesday night's council meeting.