Waukesha considers 16% pay raise for mayor over 4 years

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Waukesha — Waukeha's mayor - whoever is elected next spring - would get a 16% pay increase over the next four-year term if the Common Council agrees Tuesday night with the recommendation of its Human Resources Committee.

Pay for Mayor Larry Nelson has been frozen since 2006 at $70,100. As proposed, the mayor's pay would increase to $81,413 by 2013 - a figure that is still below this year's $82,371 average pay for mayors of comparable communities employing city administrators or managers, according to a survey by City Administrator Lori Curtis Luther. It is also less than is currently paid other full-time elected officials.

As recommended by the committee, pay for other elected positions would be frozen for four years at current levels, including: alderman at $6,500; city attorney at $108,677; and municipal judge at $27,279.

The council will also be asked Tuesday to change the way Waukesha's assessor and city clerk/treasurer are selected - from popular election to mayoral appointment and council confirmation - beginning next spring.

If those positions remained elected, the committee recommended, their pay should be frozen for four years at the current level of $81,944. It is unclear whether the change to appointed position would translate into a pay freeze.

Both incumbents, Assessor Paul Klauck and Clerk/Treasurer Thomas Neill, recommended their jobs be filled by appointment because of the professional demands of the jobs.

Citizens - who in a previous referendum refused to change the city attorney, assessor and clerk/treasurer to appointed positions - can petition for a referendum within 60 days of passage by a two-thirds vote of council members.