How Athens city officials’ salaries compare to other college towns
Athens elected officials are expected to see a salary increase of 1.96% for the next three years, according to an ordinance passed by Athens City Council in 2018.
The ordinance dictates how much elected city officials, such as the mayor, city council members, the city auditor, the treasurer and the director of law, would be compensated between 2019 through 2024.
Council President Chris Knisely said in an email that the pay increases were recommended for approval, and then put up to a vote by the Council. They were determined, in part, to keep salaries comparable to other pay increases with other city employees.
Mayor Steve Patterson said part of the 1.96% yearly salary increase came after the city hired a business consulting group named Clemans, Nelson & Associates to do a salary study for all of the city’s different pay grades. The group compared the city of Athens pay rate to comparable cities across the state.
As a result, the city was advised to reevaluate salaries every three to five years to see where it is in comparison to other cities.
Athens elected officials cannot vote to increase their salary while they’re serving their current term — the vote instead comes up before the new terms begin. The vote to approve salary increases again will likely come up in 2023, once the mayor's term is up, according to Patterson.
According to the ordinance, councilmembers who work part-time for the city made $8,404 in 2020, while in 2021 they are set to receive $8,572. As City Council President, Knisely is set to earn slightly more in comparison to other members at $10,663 for 2021.
Patterson, who has served as mayor since 2015, is set to earn $87,987 for 2021. That figure is planned to increase to $89,746 in 2022.
In comparison, the city of Oxford’s mayor — where Miami University is located — earns a flat wage of $5,400, according to a public records request. Oxford’s mayor works part-time and does not have administrative authority over the city. That power is given to a city manager chosen by the Council. The Oxford city manager will earn $147,700 in 2021.
The city of Bowling Green’s part-time mayor earns $30,000, while its full-time city municipality administrator, who has the administrative authority over the city and is also the city's safety director, earns $122,075.
For some unelected officials in Athens, however, such as the fire and police chief, police officers, and captains, salaries are negotiated through union contracts. Contracts for union employees are renegotiated every three years, and changes, such as salaries and benefits, are part of the negotiations. Once changes are agreed upon, it goes through Council to be approved, according to Patterson.
Patterson said some salary increases can also be approved as a firefighter or police officer rises through the ranks. Within those ranks, there are other salary components that get added over time such as when a firefighter is certified to be a fire inspector.
In contrast, non-union employees salary increases are determined by the mayor, usually hovering at around a 2% increase if the position is up for an increase, according to Patterson.
