Rockford's next mayor could get 15% pay raise

Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star
·2 min read

Rockford officials are poised to consider pay raises for the next mayor and next City Council based on a recommendation from the city's Finance Department.

Saying that the mayor's current pay is the lowest among full-time mayors of comparable large cities, finance officials are proposing that the mayor's pay increase 15% from $129,730 to $149,000 a year. It would then increase 2% annually every Jan. 1.

The increases would not have an impact on current office holders. The pay increases would instead take effect after the next municipal election and the next mayor are seated in May 2025.

City Finance Director Carrie Hagerty said the increase would better align the mayor's pay with non-union city staff and with what mayors of comparable cities are paid. Hagerty said, for example, the next mayor's pay would still be below the $169,014 a year the mayor of Aurora is paid.

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Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said elected official salaries were the last among city salaries including department heads and non-union employees to be reviewed for adjustment over the last two years. The last time the mayor's pay was increased was 2016 and it has not been adjusted since McNamara took office.

Like other full-time city employees, the mayor gets health insurance. The mayor also has a city vehicle that is used for city business like attending meetings and community events.

Officials could also consider giving Rockford aldermen a raise for the first time in more than 20 years. Under the proposal, pay for aldermen would increase 33% from $12,000 annually to $16,000 a year.

Aldermanic pay was increased to $12,000 from $10,500 in 2003.

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's next mayor could get 15% pay raise