The committee appointed to study City Council compensation is recommending that Councilors get a raise of more than $6,000. The compensation proposal will be considered by the Council Tuesday night at the Council Meeting.
The Blue Ribbon Committee, a group of seven residents, met seven times and looked at councilor salaries in other communities, interviewed Watertown City Councilors, and came up with four recommendations including raising salaries.
The last time the Council changed its compensation it used a cost of living percentage of 2.5 percent per year. In January 2023, it increased the salary of Councilors from $7,500 to $8,900, and the Council President’s Salary from $10,500 to $12,000.
In April 2023, Council President Mark Sideris recommended that an independent group study Council salaries the next time it is adjusted. The Council approved the creation of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
The salary change would go into effect for the next Council Term, which begins Jan. 1, 2026, and any changes must be approved within the first 18 months of the Council term, which would be June 30, 2025.
The Committee looked at other Massachusetts city council salaries and Watertown was below the average, which is around $11,000. Some are more than double the current salary: Chelsea pays $28,000 and Everett pays $25,000. Three fell below Watertown’s: Braintree pays $5,000, Pittsfield pays $8,182, and Attleboro pays $7,727.
They also looked at neighboring communities of Newton — which pays Councilors $15,500 —and Waltham, which pays $22,554.
The Committee’s recommendations are:
Recommendation 1:
The Council member salary should be adjusted from $8,900 per year to $15,000 per year. This 69% adjustment is intended to reflect the increased time and complexity of the role, the size of the city, and compensation across commensurate communities.
Recommendation 2:
The Council President salary should be adjusted from $12,000 per year to $22,000 per year. This adjustment mirrors the 69% increase of Councilor salaries, with an additional increase to reflect the additional responsibilities of chairing Council meetings and otherwise serving as the head of the City Council.
Recommendation 3:
A Blue Ribbon Committee should be convened every 5 years to assess the current relevance of Councilor compensation.
Recommendation 4:
At such time as the School Committee compensation is increased, the City Council President salary should be considered for a commensurate increase, reflecting the role of the Council President as also serving on the School Committee
See the Blue Ribbon Committee’s Report by clicking here.
The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. on June 10. It will be held in the Council Chamber in City Hall and remote participation will be available. The agenda also includes Watertown’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. See the agenda here.