Final vote June 22
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U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, attended Thursday's St. Cloud City Council meeting to present a check for $1.05 million, funding he helped secure for the city to get Hopkins Park area residents off septic systems and onto the public water/sewer system. PHOTO/CITY OF ST. CLOUD
The St. Cloud City Council is halfway toward issuing a pay raise – for future councils.
At Thursday’s meeting the board passed the first reading of an ordinance raising Council members’ salaries, but current Council members will not see the increase. It won’t take effect until the election (or re-election) of Council members after the adoption of this ordinance; the second hearing for this will be held at the next Council meeting on June 22.
“So if you’d like to get a raise, two and a half years from now, you gotta run for office again, and get elected,” Mayor Nathan Blackwell said with wry humor. “If, it’s passed.”
The measure passed 4-1, with Deputy Mayor Kolby Urban voting against. Ironically, Urban, has filed to run again for his Seat 3 in 2024.
Council members currently make $18,515 annually. The increases, which the city says are in line with what the City of Kissimmee pays its City Commission members, are based on the City’s population. Using the current population of 61,331 people, up significantly in the past few years, they will earn a base rate of $24,000 annually under the new pay structure. The Mayor will continue to earn 120 percent of Council salary rate.
Future Council members aren’t the only ones approved for a pay raise Thursday. At the request of City Councilman Shawn Fletcher, the Council passed a motion to authorize Fire Chief Jason Miller a pay raise commensurate with the City’s recently completed salary study. The move would increase his salary from $129,900 to $151,123.
Money for salary wasn’t the only currency flying around chambers Thursday. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, attended the meeting to present a check for $1.05 million, funding he helped secure for the city to get Hopkins Park area residents off septic systems and onto the public water/sewer system, as well as to relocate the lift station at Hopkins Park in preparation for improvements that are planned for the park. Last year, Soto was able to secure $2.5 million for the ongoing efforts to improve St. Cloud’s water supply, and he said he’s working for an additional
He noted during the meeting of $3.25 million for downtown flood control.
“With citizens paying a third of their income to Washington, I feel that some of that needs to come back here,” Soto said. “I’m so thrilled how the downtown now looks.”
