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TO: The Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
DATE: August 13, 2024
SUBJECT:
Elected Official Compensation.
PURPOSE:
To establish the compensation of the Mayor elected in 2025.
BACKGROUND:
Since at least 1848, Illinois has constitutionally required that the compensation of public officers be established prior to the commencement of their term of office. Section 9(b) of Article VII of the present Illinois Constitution expressly provides that "[a]n increase or decrease in the salary of an elected officer of any unit of local government shall not take effect during the term for which that officer is elected. For this reason no local elected official may ever vote to increase (or decrease) his or her own compensation - only the compensation of the person elected by the public to hold the office at the start of the next term.
To ensure that the voters have the right to weigh in on changes to elected official compensation and to prohibit post-election lame duck adjustments, the Illinois General Assembly has further required that any changes to a local elected officer's compensation be fixed at least 180 days prior to the commencement of a term in office. The Illinois Municipal Code vests the responsibility of establishing the compensation of municipal officers in each municipality's corporate authorities, which in the case of the City, is the City Council.
The Illinois Municipal Code as well as our own Code of Ordinances provides that elected City officers begin their term no earlier than the first regular or special meeting of the City Council in May following the election. The first regular meeting of the City Council in May of 2025 is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. This requires the Council to approve adjustments to the salaries of officers elected in 2025 no later than Tuesday, November 12, 2024. If no adjustments are made by this time, the salary schedule adopted by the City Council in 2021 will remain in effect. The salary of the Mayor elected in 2025 will remain the same as the Mayor's present salary for the duration of the term ending in 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed levels of compensation were developed and recommended by the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee opted to use an outside firm (Korn Ferry) to conduct a survey of comparable cities, which was completed in August of 2024. Prior to the study, staff provided information in past practice and general information regarding local comparables. The Finance Committee discussed Korn Ferry's findings at a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2024, a member of Korn Ferry was present virtually to answer questions.
The Finance Committee requested additional information from Korn Ferry, which was provided and discussed at the Thursday, August 29th meeting. The Committee held the item again until the Thursday, September 12th meeting, where recommendations were formulated. The Finance Committee recommended that effective June 1, 2025, the salary for the newly-elected Mayor should increase by 2.5% each year over the four year term.
From June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026 - $180,824.72 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027 - $185,345.34 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2027, through May 31, 2028 - $189,978.97 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2028, and continuing thereafter - $194,728.44 (2.5%);
The committee voted unanimously to approve this recommendation.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This ordinance establishes the compensation for the Mayor consistent with statute.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Council deliberate on the proposed ordinance and takes whatever action it deems appropriate.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance setting the compensation of the Mayor to be elected in 2025 in accordance with the Illinois Municipal Code and the Local Government Officer Compensation Act.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Section 3.1-50-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code provides that the salaries or other compensation of all municipal officers shall be fixed by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, Section 3.1-50-10 of the Illinois Municipal Code and Section 2 of the Local Government Officer Compensation Act provide that the salaries or other compensation of the elected officers must be fixed at least 180 days prior to the commencement of the terms of the officers whose compensation is to be fixed; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to set the compensation of the Mayor for the term commencing in May 2025;
WHEREAS, the commencement of the terms of said officers will not occur fewer than 180 days after the effective date of this Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the annual compensation for the Mayor for the term commencing in May 2025 shall be set as follows:
From June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, one hundred eighty thousand, eight hundred twenty-four dollars and seventy-two cents ($180,824.72); and
From June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, one hundred eighty-five thousand three hundred forty-five dollars and thirty-four cents ($185,345.34); and
From June 1, 2027, through May 31, 2028, one hundred eighty-nine thousand nine hundred seventy-eight dollars and ninety-seven cents ($189,978.97); and
From June 1, 2028, and continuing thereafter, one hundred ninety-four thousand seven hundred twenty-eight dollars and forty-four cents ($194,728.44); and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that if the Mayor elects to receive a vehicle allowance in lieu of use of a City-owned or leased car for City business as authorized by Section 2-38 (c) of the Code of Ordinances, the vehicle allowance shall be paid the Mayor monthly in the amount of five hundred thirty four dollars ($534.00).
BE IT ORDAINED, that the City Council specifically intends that this Ordinance shall be read together with any previous enactments establishing the compensation of the City's elected officials and shall not be construed to revoke or repeal by implication or otherwise any previous enactment; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the City Council intends that nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed as effecting a change in the compensation of any of its elected officers during their present term of office.