Waukesha — The Waukesha Common Council skimped only a little Tuesday night in approving a mayoral pay raise - approving a 12.8% increase through April 2014 instead of the 16% raise recommended by its Human Resources Committee.
The mayor elected in April will still get the annual $70,100 paid Mayor Larry Nelson since it was frozen in 2006 for his first four-year term. As approved Tuesday, the pay would increase each April after that, to $73,100 in 2011, $76,100 in 2012 and $79,100 in 2013.
With the city budget anticipating a 2010 pay freeze for all other city employees, aldermen unanimously agreed Tuesday to freeze the annual pay for their positions, as well. Aldermanic pay will stay at $6,500 a year for the next four-year term, while pay will be frozen through April 2014 - unless reversed after 2010 - for the city attorney at $108,677 and the municipal judge at $27,279.
Aldermen also voted, 12-2, to change the assessor and clerk/treasurer from popularly elected positions to mayoral appointments, with council confirmation. Pay for the appointed positions would be frozen next year at the current level, $81,944.The change would take effect next spring, unless electors petition in the next couple of months for a referendum and vote to stop the change.
In other action Tuesday, the council agreed,12-2, to raise ambulance fees - some by as much as 58% by next July - though in many cases those increases will be passed on to private insurers.