City Council members don’t make a lot of money for what they do, but Question 2M would make sure they’re paid consistently.

At its simplest, Question 2M would make alterations to the pay and pay schedule of City Council members, plus it adds the title of Mayor to City Charter language on Council compensation because the Mayor will be directly elected in 2023 and beyond.

Question 2M would amend Section 7 of the City Charter, and it would take another vote of the people to amend 2M if it should pass.

Currently, Council members are paid $239.40 per meeting, and their pay rate per meeting is adjusted annually for inflation. But they are currently only paid for meetings “at which a quorum is present,” and they can’t get paid for more than 52 meetings per year, so it is possible for members to be paid for less than 52 meetings per year. Basically, meetings are either formal business meetings, special meetings, or study sessions.

Question 2M would change this structure so Council members are paid for 52 meetings per year, and they will be paid on the same schedule as other city employees.

For more information: To read the ballot title and Council memo for 2M, visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/nov-2-2021-boulder-election-ballot-measures-and-candidates

PRO ON QUESTION 2M

  • Council members typically work even when they’re not in meetings, for example reading and responding to constituents, or studying issues. 2M would make sure members are paid for a full year’s work, not just for the number of formal meetings.
  • Even with this change, 2M would not create much of a new burden for the city budget.
  • Question 2M creates a formal pay structure for the Mayor, who will be directly elected in 2023, in the City Charter.

CON ON QUESTION 2M

  • For people who believe Council members only deserve compensation based on meeting attendance, it would be possible for members to earn 52 meetings worth of pay even while missing some number of meetings.

Richard’s Take: Vote yes. This seems to be the simplest measure on the 2021 ballot. Council members are not going to get wealthy off of 2M, but they would be paid dependably over the course of the year.