GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay’s personnel committee is unanimously supporting an increase to the mayor’s salary, though not without contention.
The proposal, led by Ald. Bill Galvin, would increase the salary of the next elected mayor. Revisiting the salary of the position could only happen again in four years, during the next election. The salary for the next mayor must be set by the first day someone can pull nomination papers, which is Dec. 1.
At the committee’s meeting Tuesday, Galvin explained that Jim Schmitt — the mayor before current Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich — went without a raise for several years. Galvin continued, emphasizing the commitment and time the position requires.
“When you look at the city budget […], I think every department head, and I think most assistant directors, are actually at a higher salary level,” added Ald. Brian Johnson.
He explained that the mayor doesn’t necessarily need to be the top salary but pointed out how Green Bay compares to other Wisconsin municipalities on the matter. While Green Bay is the third-largest city in the state, it only offers the fifth-highest pay for mayor position.
Galvin explained that he’s not looking at Genrich or the next potential mayor — he is looking to the future. Galvin believes that the position requires more than he thinks people realize.
Johnson agreed. “I think we have to dispense of this notion that this is a position of community service. This is a full-time, professional position, managing a professional staff of almost 1,000 employees, who has to have extensive knowledge of public administration.”
Johnson continued, explaining “the scope of responsibility” involved in the role. “We have to remember we are a strong mayor system. That means our mayor is the administrator, is the elected CEO of our city.” Johnson explained that actually hiring an administrator would probably cost the city over $200,000.
The last raise given to the mayor’s position was four years ago, though the raise was spread out over four years. Before then, Ald. Jennifer Grant said there hadn’t been a raise since the ’90s.
Grant pushed back on the proposal, saying that inflation this year has been hard on the community. And with a referendum coming in November, she’s concerned about how much is being asked of residents.
“I just worry, with all of these asks, something has to give. So, where is this money going to come from?”
Grant said that she doesn’t think it’s the appropriate time to give the position a raise. “At the end of the day, we keep asking for more and more — it’s not just this.”
Galvin countered, “I think the fact that we keep asking for more and more is an indication that we need more and more.” He added that inflation happens every year; in four years, there will still be inflation, a referendum and tax increases. Galvin asked when would be a good time for this discussion if not now. “I’d just like you to have an open mind to what’s going on here and maybe give it a little bit more weight until budget time to make up your mind on this.”
Galvin explained that the last time the position got a raise, officials were worried what taxpayers would think. Rather than increasing the salary to what they wanted to, they decided to just boost it to be in the ballpark. He wants to boost it a bit more now.
“This position was held for a very, very long time, so it never kept pace with inflation,” explained Johnson. “I think, minimally, we have to have that conversation about what is an inflationary increase look like so this position is treated fairly just like every other person.”
Johnson continued, considering how a raise could save the city money. “When we talk about a $3,000 raise, it’s a crisis. I just, I don’t know that it is. I think it’s a crisis when you have a bad person in that role — because you couldn’t attract good candidates — that make bad decisions that cost the city of Green Bay way more.”
Galvin said that without this increase, the city will end up with a position that’s “woefully underfunded.” Johnson agreed, saying it would put the city in a difficult spot of trying to gain ground in the future.
Galvin encouraged the group to bring a recommendation to common council. Ald. Jim Hutchison joined in, “It is a time to be fiscally responsible, but that also means to make smart choices and to pay more where it will be the biggest bang, and I can’t think of a position that has a bigger bang than this one”
Johnson motioned for a 3% per year increase for the next four years for the mayor position. It was passed unanimously.
Green Bay’s full city council still needs to vote on the matter. If it passes, the salary increase would go into effect for the next mayor before the term begins.
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