The Kirkland Salary Commission will receive public comment at a meeting Tuesday and discuss possible changes to City Council member’s and the Mayor’s salary. The meeting will be held in the City Hall Council Chamber with a 7 p.m. start time.

Currently, Kirkland city council members earn $1,063 per month and the mayor receive $1,352 per month. Both the mayor and the other council members receive life insurance and an allowance of $300 a month in lieu of additional benefits.

In 2009, the Salary Commission adopted a resolution decreasing the salaries of council members. Consistent with state law, the decrease applied to incoming council members only. The 3.4 percent decrease is reflective of the compensation reduction most employee unions agreed to last year as a budget reduction effort.

In comparison, both Bellevue and Bothell have the same city-manager form of government and Bellevue council members are at the top of the list on the Eastside for salary at $1,550 per month, while the mayor makes $1,950 per month. Bothell City Council members, also with the city-manager form of government, make $500 per month, while the mayor makes $700 per month. In Issaquah, where the mayor who is elected by the voters and is the head of the government, city council members make $700 per month with the mayor, who is equivalent of Kirkland’s City Manager, makes $7,926 per month.

The Kirkland Salary Commission is made up of three citizens who are appointed for staggered terms by the mayor with the approval of the Kirkland City Council.

If the Salary Commission elects to change the salaries of the mayor and council members, it will file the salary adjustment with the Kirkland City Clerk and the adjustment will automatically become effective.

Public comment may also be submitted in writing to: Salary Commission c/o City Attorney’s Office at 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 or e-mail rjenkinson@ci.kirkland.wa.us prior to 5 p.m. on Aug. 24.

For more information, contact Robin Jenkinson, City Attorney at 425-587-3031.