Brookfield Mayor Salary

The salary of the Brookfield Mayor has been controversial. Alderman Berg supported this salary at both the committee and Council level and feels it is fair.

The mayor is the city's chief administrative office. The mayor is a full time job, typically demanding 60+ hours/week of work. The city has an annual budget of about $30 million and over 350 employees. The mayor is under constant scrutiny by the public, the media and the staff. Every decision by the mayor gets dissected and second guessed. So, how much is it worth?

The following table shows the mayor's salary for the last several years:

1. The last salary adjustment was approved by the Council on December 6, 2005.  It increased the mayor's salary for 2006-2010, overriding the mayor's veto.
2. For 1998 and 2002, the salary was increased after the April election and the amount shown is the actual cost for the entire year.
3. The mayor also receives the same benefits package as other non-union city employees.
4. The mayor received an expense account of up to $1,200 / year until 2002. This was intended to pay for seminars, etc. Certain travel expenses may be paid out of a general city staff travel expense account.
5. The mayor gets his or her choice of a car (including gas, maintenance, insurance, etc.) or a $200/month car allowance.  Mayor Speaker has used his personal car, without reimbursement, since first elected in April, 2002.  On long official trips (e.g. Madison) he will use a car from the city car pool, just like any other city staff member.
6. In cities of Brookfield's size with a City Manager, the manager would make at lest $110,000 (for 2006) and the mayor would probably be a part time position with a salary of around $35,000. Brookfield combines those positions, effectively electing a city manager.

Mayoral candidate Jeff Speaker said "he would not take the pay increase the first year, freezing the mayoral salary at $73,116." See: MJS, February 23, 2002 - Brookfield Leaders Not Worried About Raises It is interesting to note that as a police officer, Mr. Speaker made $48,500 plus benefits as provided by the union contract. This is $24,616 less than his frozen mayor's salary, or "only" a 34% raise. Following his pledge, he will accept the $85,490 salary the second year, a 17% increase, regardless of performance. Mayor Speaker is showing restraint, but this is little more than symbolic.

During the salary debate of late 2005, Mayor Speaker requested a salary freeze, vetoed the increase (over-ridden) and pledged to return the increase during his second term.