Pflugerville City Council seeking compensation of up to $12K per year

The Pflugerville City Council is seeking to pay council members $9,000 a year, with the mayor earning $12,000.  All are currently volunteer positions.
Austin American-Statesman

Austin American-Statesman
Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman
August 10, 2023

The Pflugerville City Council is seeking to give itself a raise.

On Tuesday night, the council voted to call a special election on Nov. 7 to amend the city's charter to pay members, who currently do not receive any compensation.

If voters approve the change, council members will be paid $9,000 annually and the mayor will earn $12,000. Council members will be able to keep the salary, use it to hire staff members or to allocate the funds to city projects. Any money that is not used will be returned to the general fund, according to city documents.

The motion passed with a 5-2 vote, with council members Rudy Metayer and David Rogers voting no.

An original amendment proposed by Council Member Jim McDonald would have seen each member earning $65,000, based on them earning $1 per resident. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the population in Pflugerville was 65,556.

Jim McDonald None

McDonald said that in talks he has had with residents, they agreed council members should be paid. Mayor Victor Gonzales said residents have asked him how much he is paid, and that they are shocked to learn they do not draw a salary.

"I do feel there should be some compensation for this council and future councils," Gonzales said.

Rogers agreed that members should get compensation but said it should be the residents' choice. He said he is concerned that once the council members are paid, the city will have to pay other volunteer positions.

"If the citizens of Pflugerville want to pay us, I think that should go through the regular process," he said. "I don't think that should be a council-initiated event. I think it should go through the charter commission."

Currently, council members serve as a "dedicated volunteer force," according to the city's website. They also are reimbursed for expenses incurred during official duties.

In Round Rock, the mayor is paid $1,000 per month and council members $750 per month. They also receive a vehicle allowance of $200 per month. The Georgetown mayor receives $1,800 per month, while council members earn $1,400 per month.

After approving a 40% pay increase in August last year, Austin City Council members earn $116,688 annually, while the mayor position pays $134,191.

Before the vote on Tuesday, Pflugerville resident Melody Ryan said earning a salary might allow for a more diverse council. She said, however, that tying the salaries to the population of the city would be out of line with what neighboring cities pay.

"I think this charter amendment should be denied," she said.

In an interview before the meeting, resident Terry Newsom said the proposed pay of $65,000 means Pflugerville council members would be earning more per capita than those who serve on the Austin City Council.

"The Pflugerville City Council would soon be taking home bigger paychecks (per capita) than their Austin counterparts," Newsom said. "That seem right to anyone?"

Residents also will vote on another charter amendment to remove the position of executive assistant to the City Council. That position is currently unfilled.

The council also called for an election to fill the Place 2, 4 and 6 seats held by Ceasar Ruiz, Rudy Metayer and David Rogers. None of the council members confirmed whether or not they will run for re-election.

The deadline to file for a place on the ballot is Aug. 21.