The Hillsboro City Council will consider a recommendation from the Hillsboro Budget Committee’s non-Council members to increase monthly service stipends for the Mayor, Council President, and other Councilors.

Public members of the Budget Committee members discussed the stipends during the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget meetings. The remaining Budget Committee members unanimously recommended the following changes:

• Increasing the Mayor’s monthly service stipend from $3,000 to $4,000
• Increasing the Council President’s monthly service stipend from $950 to $1,300
• Increasing each Councilor’s monthly service stipend from $750 to $1,050

The Budget Committee’s public members periodically review stipend amounts and make recommendations when the Committee desires an adjustment. If approved by the Council, the Budget Committee’s recommendation to increase the stipends would take effect on June 24, 2022, the first day of the first pay period in 2022-2023.

Stipend Recommendation Basis

Serving on the Hillsboro City Council necessitates meetings with constituents, attending community events, City Council meetings, and committee meetings, as well as periodic meetings with staff. The Budget Committee’s recommendation to increase the stipends in 2022 is based on factors that include:

• the length of time since any stipend increases have occurred
• overall stipend history
• comparisons with other cities
• balancing public service with family, professional, and personal commitments
• the ability to attract a diverse set of candidates

Increased stipends will likely create greater opportunities for a more diverse set of voices to seek and hold local elected office. Increasing stipends may allow someone who couldn’t otherwise take time away from work to be able to hold office and participate in the governing process.

Monthly stipends for the Mayor and Council members are set by resolution and require a Council vote for any adjustment. To avoid conflicts of interest and voting on increases for their respective positions, the Council members will need to vote on whether to approve the recommended service stipend adjustments in two separate resolutions.