Salary commission more than doubles Vancouver mayor’s pay

The city of Vancouver’s salary review commission more than doubled the mayor’s salary on Friday. The mayor’s current monthly salary is $2,300 ($27,600 annually) and will go to $5,000 per month (or $60,000 per year) beginning the 2017-18 budget year. Mayor Tim Leavitt testified in favor of a salary hike but said he won’t be running for re-election at the end of his term. He will only benefit from the 117 percent pay raise for one year. The current monthly salary for the city’s mayor pro tem will go from $2,000 per month (or $24,000 annually) to $3,125 (or 37,500 annually) a 56.25 percent increase. City councilors currently earn $1,800 monthly ($21,600 annually) and will now earn $2,708 per month ($32,496 annually) or a 50.4 percent increase. The salary commission has absolute power to set the salaries of the mayor and council; the decision is not subject to review by the council. This story will be updated.