Chapter 2.08
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMPENSATION*
Sections:
2.08.010 Mayor—Salary designated.
2.08.020 City council—Compensation designated.
2.08.030 Salary revisions—Applicability to incumbent.
2.08.040 Cellular phone allowance for mayor.
2.08.050 Mayor and city council—Per diem reimbursement for expenses.
2.08.060 Mayor and city council—Reimbursement for other expenses.
2.08.070 Procedures for reimbursement for mayor and city council.
* For statutory authority for code cities to fix the mayor’s and council’s pay by ordinance, see RCW 35A.12.070.
2.08.010 Mayor—Salary designated.
Effective July 1, 2024, the salary of the mayor of the city of Prosser is hereby fixed in the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars per month.
Effective December 31, 2027, the salary of the mayor of the city of Prosser is hereby fixed in the sum of seven hundred seventy-three dollars per month. (Ord. 3238 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3234 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3051 § 1, 2018: Ord. 2798 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2539 § 3, 2005: Ord. 1120 § 1, 1979).
2.08.020 City council—Compensation designated.
A. Until a salary schedule is filed in accordance with Chapter 2.09, councilpersons whose terms commenced prior to January 1, 2014, shall be paid as follows:
The salary of each councilperson of the city is hereby fixed in the sum of forty dollars for each meeting attended of the city council and twenty dollars for each meeting attended as a member of a committee of the city council.
For purposes of this section “each meeting attended of the city council” is defined as a regular or special meeting or workshop where a majority of the city council members are requested to attend for the purpose of transaction of official business of the city as defined in RCW 42.30.020(3).
For purposes of this section, “each meeting attended as a member of a committee of the city council” is defined as a meeting where not more than three city council members are requested to attend because of contractual obligation and/or appointment by the mayor of the city to the committee or board conducting such meeting.
B. Until a salary schedule is filed in accordance with Chapter 2.09, the salary for councilpersons whose terms begin on or after January 1, 2014, is hereby fixed at the sum of two hundred fifty dollars per month. (Ord. 3051 § 2, 2018: Ord. 2847 § 2, 2013: Ord. 1682 § 1, 1994: Ord. 1120 § 2, 1979).
2.08.030 Salary revisions—Applicability to incumbent.
Subject to the terms of Chapter 2.09 and until a salary schedule is filed in accordance with Chapter 2.09, the salary of councilpersons shall be fixed by ordinance; provided, however, any increase or decrease in the salary for councilpersons shall not be applicable to the term then being served by the incumbent. (Ord. 3051 § 3, 2018: Ord. 2539 § 2, 2005: Ord. 1120 § 4, 1979).
2.08.040 Cellular phone allowance for mayor.
The mayor shall be entitled to either the issuance of a city-owned cellular phone or a cellular phone allowance in the amount established in the city of Prosser personnel policy manual for employees. The mayor shall provide proof to the finance director that he or she has a personal cell phone which has a current service contract before he or she shall be entitled to such reimbursement. The mayor shall notify the finance director immediately if such cell phone service contract is terminated or otherwise cancelled. (Ord. 3234 § 2, 2024; Ord. 2662 § 2, 2009).
2.08.050 Mayor and city council—Per diem reimbursement for expenses.
The mayor and city council shall be entitled to per diem reimbursement for travel expenses at the same rate as provided to employees in the city’s most recent personnel policy manual adopted by ordinance for travel expenses incurred in carrying out their official duties. Official duties shall include, but not be limited to: attendance at conferences, meetings, and schools. Transportation expenses shall include the actual and necessary cost of public transportation, as appropriate, and shall include mileage paid at the rate allowed by the State Office of Financial Management for business expenses when the mayor or city councilperson uses his or her personal motor vehicle for transportation. Transportation shall not include commuting to and from City Hall for city-related business or meetings. The city finance director is authorized to adjust on an annual basis the per diem rate for all travel expenses in accordance with rates set by the State Office of Financial Management. (Ord. 2662 § 3, 2009).
2.08.060 Mayor and city council—Reimbursement for other expenses.
In the event that the mayor or city councilperson incurs an expense other than a travel expense, then he or she shall be entitled to reimbursement for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her office to the same extent as provided to employees under the city’s most recent personnel policy manual adopted by ordinance. (Ord. 2662 § 4, 2009).
2.08.070 Procedures for reimbursement for mayor and city council.
A. All nonbudgeted travel expenses or nonbudgeted other expenses shall be approved by the city council before the mayor or a city councilperson incurs the expense. Budgeted travel or other expenses may be incurred upon approval by the mayor or the city administrator under the direction of the mayor.
B. Other than as provided for in subsection A of this section, the procedure for the approval of all expense claims shall be the same as provided for employees under the city’s most recent personnel policy manual adopted by ordinance. (Ord. 2662 § 5, 2009).
2.08.900 Severability.
The provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this chapter shall not as a result of said section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase be held unconstitutional or invalid. (Ord. 2662 § 6, 2009: Ord. 2539 § 4, 2005).