Explanation
In November 2014, Columbus voters approved a series of ballot issues which amended the Columbus City Charter. Included among the changes was a mandate to establish a Citizens’ Commission on Elected Official Compensation to review and recommend the salary for each elected officer of the city, with the underlying goal of increasing citizen engagement and adding an additional layer of accountability to the process of setting future pay rates for elected officials in Columbus.
The 2018 Citizens’ Commission on Elected Official Compensation issued its reports and recommendations in September 2018 and the Commission’s recommendations were enacted by City Council pursuant to Ordinance 3300-2018 for the years 2022 through 2025. In January 2022, Mayor Andrew Ginther and City Council President Shannon Hardin formed the 2022 Citizens’ Commission on Elected Official Compensation as required under Section 15-2 of the Columbus City Charter and charged them with reviewing compensation for the mayor, city council members, city council president, city attorney, and city auditor, and make salary recommendations including an annual cost of living adjustment to not exceed the average increase in the consumer price index over the preceding four years.
Commission members included:
· Michael Kasler, Chair
· Dr. Keisha Hunley-Jenkins, Esq.
· Sarah Ingles, Esq.
· Qiana Williams, ACC, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
· Fred Ransier, Esq.
The 2022 Compensation Commission held nine meetings, including a public hearing, before finalizing recommendations for the salary of each elected official of the city. Under the Columbus City Charter, setting elected official salaries will still require a public vote of City Council. Council may accept and enact the Commission’s recommendations in whole or in part. Council may enact all of the recommendations as submitted, some of the recommendations as submitted, or may enact an amount less than recommended. However, Council is prohibited from enacting any am...
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