ATLANTA — The future could hold major pay raises for top politicians in the metro.
Thousands of taxpayer dollars could help raise the salaries of the mayor, city council and school board.
This comes after the Elected Officials Compensation Commission recommended 30-100% increases at a meeting on Nov. 4.
"There really hasn't been a lot of conversation, just a lot of surprised and raised eyebrows," Michael Julian Bond, Post 1 At-Large, Atlanta City Council member, said.
Shocked by the dollar signs, Bond is still assessing the proposed raises from the EOCC. The group took two months to study and compare the cost of living in the metro with other major cities.
"If you're called to serve, and you serve in Atlanta, you should be able to buy a home in Atlanta," Quentin Washington said.
Washington is the chair of the EOCC. He presented the group's findings to the council.
"One of the things we looked at was we looked at peer cities throughout the United States. We also looked at the rising cost of living in the city of Atlanta," Washington said
Atlanta was compared to cities like Boston, Denver and Washington, DC, where salaries for council and mayor range from $100,000 to $250,000.
The salaries of the mayor, council president, council members and school board members would increase by anywhere from $40,000 to $68,000.
"I was surprised at how large it was. There is a good argument to make for an increase, but this seems to be larger than I expected it to be. Some increase is warranted, but this increase almost $50,000 above our current salaries. You have to weigh that versus the fact that this is a public service duty," Bond said.
In the meeting on Nov. 4, the council adopted the recommendation without opposition. Moving forward, if they don't want to accept it, they don't have to.
From now on, the council will hear public comment on whichever increase they choose. Legislation still needs to be proposed, but officials say something will be voted on by the end of the year.
Council members last saw an increase in January 2021. The new salaries will take effect in 2026.