Iowa City Council votes to raise its salaries, access city health care

IOWA CITY - Council members for Iowa City will have higher wages and access to the city's employee health care in 2020 after a vote Tuesday night.

The council voted 5-2, with members Mazahir Salih and Susan Mims in the negative, to increase salaries to $11,960 for council members and $14,950 for the mayor with annual inflation adjustments. The seven-member council would also have access to half time employee health care rate of $511.98 for the city and member to split in half for single coverage each month and $1,494.93 to split for family coverage.

Salaries are currently at $7,259.20 for council members and $8,278.40 for the mayor.

Council members in support of the increase say it'll make it more financially feasible for more people to run for council, especially those with lower incomes. The new salary would be more in line other Iowa cities, such as Sioux City, which is comparable in size.

Sioux City, pays its mayor $15,000 and council members $13,000 and offers access to city employee health care, according to a memo from City Manager Geoff Fruin.

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