Rapid City's mayor and council members are poised to receive a 2.5 percent pay increase in 2009. However, to avoid a repeat of last year's controversy, city staff must delete a reference to an ongoing cost-of-living adjustment in the salary resolution.

Proposed increases for next year would see the mayor's salary go from $95,046 to $97,422 and council salaries from $13,113 to $13,441. Council members also receive $100 per month as a technology allowance and $75 per month for travel expenses.

Last November, proposed raises prompted an outcry from some council members because of language that referred to a perpetual, automatic 3 percent cost-of-living increase for elected officials. Ultimately, Mayor Alan Hanks vetoed the reference, and the raises were approved.

This year's initial salary resolution referred to an ongoing 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. City staffers said Wednesday that the language was a mistake that will not appear in the final version of the resolution.

Because of the confusion, the council's legal and finance committee decided to wait until its Nov. 25 meeting to consider salary increases.

Alderman Sam Kooiker said he has concerns about approving the increase even with the mistaken language removed.

Kooiker said the council discussed pay for elected officials when preparing the 2009 budget, and he believed there would be no raises next year.

"I'm surprised to see it come up," he said. "If you look at the historical increases for mayor and council, past increases have been generous. I think a few years of no increases is appropriate."

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com