Posted: | April 9, 2024 12:01 PM |
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From: | Representative Kyle Donahue |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Increasing Compensation for Borough Officials |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would amend Title 8 (Borough Code) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to increase the maximum allowable compensation for council members and mayors in boroughs. The bill itself would not directly increase any official’s compensation since Boroughs have the choice to provide compensation through ordinance. Any changes to that compensation must take effect at the beginning of the official’s next term of office. Increasing the maximum allowable compensation or borough officials would enable more members of the community, who otherwise couldn’t afford to, enter public service. In fact, the maximum allowable compensation for borough officials has not been increased since 1995. The value of $1 in 1995 is half as much as it is today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill would also authorize an alternative, optional form of compensation on a per-meeting basis consistent with the Third-Class City Code. A borough council opting for the alternative could cause the forfeiture of up to 1/12th of the annual compensation for a member of council who fails to attend a properly scheduled meeting without excuse. This would give borough councils an additional option to hold their members accountable when they do not attend meetings. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation to allow our boroughs officials to be fairly compensated for their service to our communities. |
Introduced as HB2265