San Antonio City Council members are facing a contentious debate over whether they deserve a significant pay raise, with opinions on the matter sharply divided. The city’s Charter Review Commission subcommittee on council pay and compensation recently proposed increasing council members’ salaries to a range between $75,000 and $125,000 annually, and bumping the mayor’s pay to between $90,000 and $140,000.
Currently, council members earn a modest $45,722 per year, while Mayor Ron Nirenberg makes $61,725 annually. Some council members, like District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, have expressed concerns about the proposed raises, calling them “insensitive” to low-income constituents who are struggling to make ends meet.
On the other hand, District 3’s Phyllis Viagran argues that council members work long hours and should be compensated similarly to county commissioners, who earn a starting salary of $150,000. Other council members, such as District 5’s Teri Castillo and District 2’s Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, believe there should be a pay raise, but not as high as the subcommittee recommends.
The subcommittee has until May to finalize its pay raise proposal to the City Council. If approved, voters will have the final say on whether elected officials should receive a raise in the November election. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.