Constantine discusses pay increase for elected officials

Members of the Constantine Village Council this week discussed an increase in salary for elected officials.
The matter arose after the council last month adopted a one-year budget that took effect April 1. It included a salary increase of $3,500 to $4,000 annually for the village clerk and treasurer. The salary of the village president was raised from $75 to $ 100 per month, plus $125 per meeting. Trustees’ salaries were raised from $50 to $75 per month, plus $100 per meeting.
Village manager Mark Honeysett said Michigan’s general law village act requires an ordinance to establish compensation for the village president and council members, and that he sent a letter to village attorney Howard Bush asking him to draft an amendment to the village’s 1998 ordinance, which establishes those salaries.
Honeysett added it is his understanding that a village council may not increase its own salary, but can only set compensation for the next council, which will be seated following November’s general election.
The council set a May 2 public hearing to gather feedback about the salary increases.