The Tulsa City Council approved without comment Wednesday a measure that increases the mayor’s annual salary from $105,000 to $190,000.
The nearly 81% increase in annual pay would take effect when the next mayor takes office on Dec. 2.
Mayor G.T. Bynum, who is not seeking reelection after serving two four-year terms, told the Tulsa World on Wednesday that he would approve the ordinance governing the pay increase.
Bynum would not see any additional salary beyond his current $105,000 annual rate.
The mayor’s annual pay, which is set by the City Council, last changed in 2002, when it increased from $70,000 to the current rate of $105,000.
The increase in pay comes about a year after the council received data on what other municipalities pay their mayors and city councilors.
People are also reading…
City Councilors, who cannot increase their own pay, have OK’d two City Charter votes for Aug. 27, which, if voters approve, would effectively increase the salaries of the city auditor and the nine councilors.
One charter amendment would increase city councilor annual pay from $24,000 to $32,000.
Councilors last saw a pay increase in 2014, when voters approved a pay hike from $18,000 to the current rate.
The city auditor would see a change in how that position’s pay is calculated, too.
The city auditor currently earns 70% of the mayor’s salary. The charter amendment would boost that rate to 75% of the mayor’s annual pay.
The council-approved ordinance ties future changes in elected officials’ pay to the Consumer Price Index.
The ordinance also provides for all elected officials to be eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan separate and different from the city’s Municipal Employees Retirement Plan.
The measure passed 8-0. District 9 Councilor Jayme Fowler, who is running for mayor, did not vote on the mayoral pay increase ordinance.
The Tulsa World is where your story lives.
The Tulsa World newsroom is committed to covering this community with curiosity, tenacity and depth. Our passion for telling the story of Tulsa remains unwavering. Because your story is our story. Thank you to our subscribers who support local journalism. Join them with limited-time offers at tulsaworld.com/story.
