Richland County Council members vote to raise their own salaries by more than $11,000
Richland County Council members will be in for a substantial pay raise — to the tune of more than $11,000 apiece — after taking an initial vote to raise their own salaries Tuesday night.
Currently, Richland County Council members receive $14,500 a year for their service on the 11-member council, except for the chair, who receives $16,000.
The proposed adjustment would increase their salaries to 80% of the lowest-paid county government employees, who now earn $32,000. That will raise council salaries to $25,600 a year, plus an additional 10% pay for the council chairperson, for a total of $28,160.
That amounts to a 76% pay raise for most council members.
In the most recent county budget, council members approved a 4% cost of living pay raise for most other county employees.
Councilman Bill Malinowski, who, along with Councilman Joe Walker and Councilwoman Chakisse Newton, voted against the pay raise, noted before the vote that County Council had asked all county departments not to request more money in the most recent round of budgeting.
“Everyone knows we are in more difficult times financially than we were before,” Malinowski said, adding that approving a significant raise for council members “is way out of line.”
An earlier proposal would have raised council pay to the full minimum salary for full-time county employees, $32,000.
Council Chairman Overture Walker said the pay raise for council members had already been accounted for in the latest budget, which was approved over the summer.
“What we voted on tonight is not a tax increase. This is not County Council patting itself on the back,” Overture Walker said.
Prior to Tuesday night’s vote, Councilman Joe Walker told The State he agreed County Council compensation could be tied to other county pay scales so that council doesn’t have to regularly update its pay ordinance but said he doesn’t believe a full-time employee’s salary is appropriate.
“I do not nor would not support a pay increase of any type for county council persons,” he told The State. “You’re talking about a full-time employee versus a part-time, volunteer public servant. I don’t think it’s appropriate to be paid a full-time salary.”
The draft ordinance notes that the increased pay would only take effect after the end of current council members’ terms, but that could still mean a pay bump for some council members next year. On Nov. 8, roughly half the council’s seats are up for election, with several sitting council members running unopposed for reelection.
Joe Walker is stepping down from the council this year, with Democrat Bryan Burroughs and Republican Don Weaver competing for his District 6 seat. Incumbents Newton, Paul Livingston and Allison Terracio are running unopposed, while Jason Branham is the sole candidate to replace outgoing Malinowski in District 1.
Two additional votes are required to solidify the change in council members salaries, which is codified by county ordinance. The final vote on the pay raise is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1, one week before the election.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Councilwoman Chakisse Newton voted against the pay raise for council members.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 11:41 AM.
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