The Austin City Council voted 5-0 in favor of a pay increase for council members and the mayor during a special session on Thursday afternoon. Councilman Steve King and Councilwoman Janet Anderson were absent.

A motion to vote on the proposed approximate 40 percent increase was approved during the council’s work session on Dec. 3. Administrative Services Director Tom Dankert stated that under Minnesota statute, the increase couldn’t take effect until January 2021, after the next election cycle.

The vote marks the first pay increase for the council and the mayor since 2001.

Current mayor and council member annual salaries are:

• Mayor – $9,000

• Council Member At-Large – $7,800

• First, Second and Third Ward Council Members – $6,600

A 40 percent increase would respectively raise the salaries to $12,600, $10,800, and $9,300 per year. According to City Administrator Craig Clark, this would be estimated annual increases of 1.69 percent, 1.64 percent and 1.56 percent (respectively) between 2001-2021.

Retiring council members Judy Enright and David Hagen voted in support, even though they will not benefit from the increase.