HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Hampton’s next city council and mayor will be paid nearly double the current salaries that come with those positions starting next summer.
Council voted 7-0 on Wednesday night to approve raising pay from the current $23,000 per year for council members to $43,000, and from the current $25,000 per year for mayor to $47,000. The raises won’t go into effect until July 1, 2025, meaning several council members will have to win reelection to see those increases. Mayor Donnie Tuck meanwhile is retiring at the end of the year.
The salary increases are thanks to a new Virginia law that passed this year. House Bill 456 gave municipalities across the commonwealth the ability to raise the maximum salaries for mayor and council positions. Hampton approved the maximum salary amounts set for cities between 75,000 to 174,999 residents.
The resolution on Wednesday came with little fanfare. Just one citizen spoke and said he was happy with the city’s direction and was “totally in favor” of raises.
Hampton city officials said it was the first time in over 20 years that the city council and mayor got raises. Portsmouth, which hadn’t seen raises for its council and mayor since 1996, also voted this week to approve the maximum salary amounts under the new law.
Portsmouth’s council members said they believe the raises are fair based on the amount of work required for the positions outside of just showing up for council meetings.