Annual Pay Raise Proposed for St. Peters Board of Aldermen

The St. Peters Board of Aldermen is considering reinstating annual pay raise for its members that would be tied to the annual personal living increase in Missouri for the previous year. 

The legislation which will be introduced Thursday would create annual pay raises for aldermen automatically each May starting in May 2016. 

The percent raise would be the same as the percent increase of the personal income of Missouri. In 2012, Missouri's personal income grew 3 percent, for example. 

Board members are paid $14,525 a year. A 3 percent raise would be an additional $435.75. Current members of the Board of Aldermen would have to win re-election to benefit from the annual increase.

The city suspended these automatic raises in 2007. Mayor Len Pagano said one of the reasons to reinstate the raises is so that the city doesn't have to give 30 and 40 percent raises to catch up after many years of not giving any raise.
 
"It never fails, you do the calculation and you say, holy smokes, they got a 20 percent raise, a 30 percent raise," he said. "I think that's how other governments get in trouble."

In March, the O'Fallon City Council approved a 57 percent pay raise for its members, after going 12 years with no raise.  

Mayor and Alderman Salaries: How Does St. Peters Compare?

"We are just trying to keep everything even and above board," said Ward 1 Alderman Rocky Reitmeyer. "It's not a big thing, it's small. We're just reinstating it this year." 

Reitmeyer said the city can afford to return to annual pay increases for the board because the economy is picking back up. 

"In talking to carpenters, we're doing good," he said. "People are buying houses, I can see the economy moving pretty good now."

Ward 1 Alderman Terri Violet said she didn't feel comfortable sharing her opinion on the possible pay increase. "I haven't decided what way I'm going to vote," she said. "I haven't finished reading the packet." 

In addition, the Board of Alderman will consider pay raises for people appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment.

Planning and Zoning Commission members would make $85 a month, up from $75, and Board of Adjustment members would make $75 a month, up from $50 a month.