As Milwaukee households contend with climbing property tax bills and higher energy costs, a Common Council committee voted Wednesday to recommend that the mayor and all 15 council members receive 8% pay raises, followed by 2% annual increases every year after starting once the next four-year term begins in 2028.
The Finance and Personnel Committee advanced the plan on a 3-2 vote. Chair Marina Dimitrijevic, joined by Alderwomen Milele Coggs and Sharlen Moore, voted in favor; Alderman Scott Spiker and Alderman Peter Burgelis voted no.
Dimitrijevic defended the increases as simply catching elected officials’ pay up to what city workers have already received. “We are just looking at getting exactly what everyone else got,” she said.
The proposed raises trace back to a legal problem with officials’ own 2024 vote regarding pay. The previous plan handed the mayor and council 15% raises at the start of their current term, plus a provision letting their salaries climb automatically, up to 3%, whenever general city employees got raises. City Attorney Evan Goyke concluded in a Sept. 11 memo that this arrangement let officials effectively vote themselves mid-term raises which is barred under state law. In order to not violate state law, the Council is now moving the 8% pay raise starting in 2028 proposal forward.
Under the new numbers, council members’ salaries would rise from $84,205 to $90,941; the council president’s from $94,310 to $101,855; and Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s from $169,436 to $182,991. These salaries are all well above the Milwaukee median household income of $54,234. Taxpayers in the City will be required to foot this bill if fully approved.
Both measures head to the full Common Council for a final vote at its Sept. 22 meeting.
