Zulich is re-evaluating the proposal to increase city council salaries: ‘I believe it’s acceptable to think about other options’

Bloomington, Indiana – Bloomington city council member Sydney Zulich announced that her proposal to double the current salary of city council members will undergo changes before the council’s meeting next Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the city council conducted the initial reading of the ordinance. Council members are currently restricted by local law from engaging in discussions about the ordinance until it is presented for a second reading on Wednesday, December 11.

At present, the annual salary for city council members stands at $21,153. If approved, the ordinance would set their 2025 salary at $45,423. In light of the backlash from both the public and fellow council members, Zulich is now re-evaluating the proposed wage.

“I aim to strive for a solution that benefits everyone, or at least the majority,” Zulich expressed to the Indiana Daily Student.

Councilmember Isak Nti Asare expressed criticism regarding the ordinance.

“That bump is absolutely absurd,” he remarked following the meeting on Wednesday.

Asare expressed that he believed the council’s commitment to serving the public was not reflected in the ordinance.

Asare emphasized, “The fundamental arguments being presented are what truly matter and must be taken into consideration.” “Many of them lack sound reasoning. It’s truly frustrating to think about how we arrived at that conclusion in the first place.

Zulich chaired a salary committee that included council members Kate Rosenbarger, Hopi Stosberg, and Matt Flaherty. The group reached a consensus on the proposed amount of $45,423 outlined in the ordinance, which is tied to the mayor’s salary. The ordinance also suggests that Mayor Kerry Thomson’s salary be increased by $13,379, bringing her total compensation to $151,410.

Considering the mayor’s full-time employment, the committee aimed to determine the proportion of a 40-hour work week that council members dedicate to their part-time roles. A survey carried out by the committee revealed that council members self-reported an average of 16.67 hours of work per week.

Two council members disclosed that they worked a total of 12 hours in the week, marking the lowest reported figure. The committee utilized that figure, representing 30% of a full-time work week, to establish the salary for the city council. The amount of $45,423 represents 30% of the mayor’s suggested salary of $151,410.

The council’s existing compensation is less than that of other Indiana cities of similar size; however, the suggested salary would exceed the city councils’ pay in larger cities by over $10,000. The city of Hammond, which has the largest population near Bloomington, compensates its city council members with an annual salary of $35,494.

The proposed salary for city council members, when calculated as an hourly rate based on a 12-hour work week, amounts to $72.79 per hour. The ordinance states that the committee did not determine compensation according to hours worked, but instead based it on the “requirements to provide quality community service.”

The approach to determining the council’s salary is a first for Bloomington. Zulich expressed her willingness to consider alternative approaches to that strategy.

“If I’m receiving feedback from the residents of District 6 indicating that this is not what they desire, I’m open to supporting their needs over my own preferences,” Zulich stated. “I have no intention of taking on a parenting role for anyone.” I have confidence that the residents of Bloomington understand their own needs.

The council is scheduled to convene for its second regular session of the month at 6:30 p.m. on December 11 at City Hall.