May a mayor in a mayor-council city receive a salary increase immediately?
Yes, in most circumstances. The state constitution does contain an exception allowing salary increases during an official’s term in office if that official does not fix his or her own compensation.1 The exception cannot be triggered by an official abstaining from the vote for a salary increase because it is a councilmember’s authority to fix compensation that is determinative.2 This exception would allow the salary of a mayor in a mayor-council city to be increased during his or her term of office, provided that the vote of the mayor is not necessary for the passage of the applicable ordinance. Because the positions of a mayor pro tem or a mayor in council-manager or commission forms of government are not distinguishable from their role as councilmember, this exception would not apply to a mayor under those circumstances. May a person appointed to fill a council vacancy receive a salary increase immediately, if the increase was enacted prior to the appointment? No, because the Washingt
