GILBERT, Ariz. — The Gilbert Town Council voted Tuesday to grant themselves a salary raise.
During a lengthy council meeting, the town's elected officials voted to adjust their annual salaries based on a 15-year consumer price index growth calculation.
The decision would raise the mayor's salary from $43,631 to $57,149 and each council member's salary from $21,012 to $31,749. Moving forward, the council also approved granting gradual salary adjustments on a periodic basis.
The council's salaries have not changed since 2018, town records show.
Mayor Brigette Peterson, who is not seeking another term in office, voted against the salary raises.
"I don't think it's the right time to be asking for a raise for this council," the mayor said Tuesday, "I don't think we deserve to ask for a raise from the public right now."
Gilbert's leaders have been subjected to public scrutiny over the last year as stories of teen violence have garnered more media attention following the death of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek. Some have called for town officials to resign for the alleged mishandling over the "Gilbert Goons" issue.
Council members said their work requires much more than the expectations of the average part-time job and that they're constantly being held to high standards by the community.
"We are on stage 24/7 and have to watch our backs 24/7," said Councilman Chuck Bongiovanni.
The salary raise would bring Gilbert up to a more comparable level with Chandler, which has a similar population size as the town. Chandler's mayor earns $58,461 and council members earn $34,234.
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