Aurora will begin the process of looking at compensation for aldermen and the mayor.
City officials get a chance every four years to look at the pay for the elected officials. Aurora last did it four years ago.
At that time, the City Council put in pay increases in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 for aldermen, and in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for the mayor.
Four years before that, aldermen increased the mayor’s pay but did not increase the pay for aldermen.
No elected board can increase salaries for itself. Any increase voted on this year for aldermen would take effect in 2027. For the mayor, any increase would be in 2025.
Aldermen currently are paid $22,299 a year, and get $90 for each meeting. They are due a 5% increase in 2026, at which point the yearly salary would be $25,588.
The mayor is paid $248,701 a year, with a 5% increase due this year.
In the past, Aurora did a pay study through the Chamber of Commerce, with several special committees joining in. Four years ago, the city did a study in-house.
Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, the Finance Committee chairman, said four years ago, the city looked at a number of different communities, townships and counties when it came to pay for elected officials. He suggested the city do a similar thing this time.
“There are so many variables we can look at,” he said. “Based on what I’ve looked at, we’re right in the ballpark.”
When evaluating pay for employees at City Hall, the city has used a private firm to analyze the pay structure. City officials said that is an option for the elected officials, too.
City staff will come back to the next City Council Finance Committee meeting with a suggestion on how to proceed.
slord@tribpub.com
