Voters open door for City Council compensation

Fifty-three percent of Whitefish voters on Election Day approved an amendment to the city charter to allow City Council members to be paid, but it will be some time before they cash that first check. 

The green light on the ballot question allows the dialogue about compensation to continue and it is on the agenda for the Nov. 18 Council meeting. Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith said the Council may choose to discuss the approval then and provide direction to city staff about the next steps. One possibility is that a work session will be scheduled for further discussion. 

When ready, the Council will schedule a public hearing, a notice for which, as always, will be published in the Whitefish Pilot two weeks ahead of time.  

During a May meeting, Whitefish City Attorney Angela Jacobs said if the public voted in favor of the charter change, the Council would likely have a work session to discuss the benefits, then consider a resolution to set the benefits, which would require at least one public hearing. 

Currently, the mayor and councilors do have some benefits, including reimbursement of up to $500 for an electronic device, $150 per quarter toward the use of a cellphone, a membership to the WAVE and the ability to opt into the city’s health insurance plan and pay the full premium. 

Prior to putting the question of a charter change on the ballot, the council held two work sessions and researched ways other towns compensate councilors and mayors. At that time, they found that Whitefish was one of only a few towns that do not compensate councilors.

At a work session in February, several councilors noted the reason for compensation is to make civil service as a councilor more attractive and possible for a wider range of Whitefish residents. 

Councilor Rebecca Norton said at a meeting in May that compensation would encourage participation in the public process. 

“Ninety percent of the people who live here, who are working class and struggling to make ends meet,” Mayor John Muhlfeld said in February. “The lack of compensation is a very real deterrent, in my opinion, to generating younger people to run for office.” 

VOTERS ALSO chose five people to serve as commissioners on a government review board. 

According to Whitefish City Clerk Michelle Howke, the mayor and City Council on Nov. 18 will appoint an ex officio nonvoting member, an elected official or staff member, to the study commission.  

The commission must hold its first meeting by Nov. 19, when the commissioners will be sworn in. The group will also appoint a presiding officer, determine meeting dates and a budget.  

All meetings are open to the public and the agendas will be posted on the city’s website.