O'Fallon Approves Pay Raises for Mayor and City Council

O'Fallon City Council voted 6-4 to approve an increase in compensation for the city's elected officials at the Thursday, March 14 meeting. 

Voting against the ordinance were Ward 1 Councilmen Bill Gardner and Rick Lucas, Ward 3 Councilman Rick Battelle and Ward 5 Councilman Michael Snowden.  

Compensation was last set for elected officials in 2001 at $19,500 per year for the mayor and $7,600 per year for council members.

The newly passed ordinance increased compensation to $24,000 for the mayor and $12,000 for council members. The new salaries go into effect for the winners of the April 2013 election.

The terms of Rick Lucas, Jim Pepper, Rick Battelle, Jeff Schwentker and Michael Snowden end in April, leaving one seat open in wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Mayor Bill Hennessy's term also ends in April. Council members serve three-year terms. The mayor serves a four-year term. 

(Read more: See how other St. Charles County cities compare with compensation for elected officials)

Ward 4 Councilman Jeff Schwentker, who sponsored the ordinance, said he brought the issue forward to bring future council members up to where they should be on the pay scale. 

Other reasons cited in the ordinance included, cost of living increase, more accurately reflecting time demands of the positions and continuing to encourage residents to consider public service in the future.