This August when Baldwin County residents head to the polls, in some cases, they will be electing new local leaders. In other cases, incumbents will serve another term. Some municipalities have voted to increase elected officials’ compensation significantly in the next term.

Voters may make their choice based a candidate’s stance on the issues. Or some make the choice based on personality, personal relationships or check the box of the name they recognize the most. But voters in the upcoming municipal elections should remember that their vote awards the winner with a paycheck, cut from city tax revenue.

Individual cities determine their own pay scale for political positions. Some include benefits such as phone and car allowances and the option to purchase city insurance coverage.  

Below, see how municipal leaders are compensated across Baldwin County towns and cities Also, see how those amounts, in many cases, are slated to change after the elections.

Bay Minette

In Bay Minette, the mayor receives a salary of $36,000 per year, plus a $500 per month car and cell phone allowance. In addition, the city ordinance includes a provision that if the mayor should miss more than two regularly scheduled meetings in a fiscal year, the council may vote, at its discretion, to reduce the mayor’s salary by $500 for any regularly scheduled meeting missed in excess of the two permitted absences.

Council members receive $7,800 per year while the mayor pro-tem receives an additional $600 per year. Council members could have their salary reduced by $200 per meeting if they miss more than two meetings in a fiscal year.

All city employees receive the same benefits, including health insurance; no cost dental insurance, life insurance; RSA retirement benefits, uniform costs, sick leave, holiday and accrued vacation pay.

Daphne

The mayor receives a salary of $75,000 a year. The city council president earns $17,000 annually, the vice president receives $14,200, annually and council members earn $13,000 each year. Salaries for the upcoming term are the same as the current pay.

Council members are also entitled to a cell phone, laptop and/or tablet. Council members can also purchase city health insurance at the city's cost to be deducted from their council pay.

Elberta

The current mayor receives $7,200 annually, while the current council members receive $3,600 annually. Following the start of the next term, the mayor will receive $14,400 annually, while the next-term council will remain at $3,600 annually. During the next term, the mayor and council members will be eligible to participate in the Local Government Health Insurance Program offered to town employees.

Fairhope

When the new term begins, the mayor will receive a salary of $85,000 a year. The current salary is $32,400.

City council members will receive $12,000 a year in the new term, up from the current $9,600. The salary of the council president will increase from $10,800 a year to $13,200 a year.

Council members and the mayor are also entitled to free family health insurance.

Foley

The current mayor receives $35,000 annually during the first two mayoral terms. The salary is raised to $40,000 annually for the remaining two years of mayoral term. The mayor is reimbursed for all qualifying expenses.

Beginning next term, Foley’s mayor will receive $50,000 for the first year, $55,000 for the second year, $60,000 for the third year, and $65,000 for the fourth year.

Foley’s current council president receives $18,000 annually, and is reimbursed for qualifying expenses. The next term council president will receive $25,000 annually.

Currently, the council president pro-tem receives $12,000 annually, the same salary received by the remaining members of the city council. All are reimbursed for qualifying expenses. Beginning next term, the council president pro-tem will receive an annual salary of $22,000 and the remaining council members will receive $20,000 annually.

Next term, the mayor and council will be reimbursed for all qualifying expenses, and will be eligible to participate in the RSA-1 or Empower Retirement Deferred Compensation Plan.

Gulf Shores

The current mayor earns $50,000 annually and can participate in the city’s medical and dental insurance programs just as city employees do. The next term mayor will receive a raise to $85,000 annually and will receive a $650 per month automobile allowance.

The mayor pro-tem is currently paid $18,000 annually and has access to the city’s medical and dental insurance programs. The incoming mayor pro-tem salary will increase to $25,000 annually.

City council members currently make $15,000 annually and can purchase the city’s medical and dental insurance programs.  The next term council members will see an annual salary increase to $20,000.

Loxley

In Loxley, the mayor receives an annual salary of $15,000. Council members receive $7,200 per year with no additional salary for the mayor pro tem.

The Loxley Town Council voted against a pay raise for the next mayor and council at its February meeting.

Magnolia Springs

The current mayor has an annual salary of $3,000, while councilmembers have an annual salary of $1,200.

Beginning next term, the mayor will have an annual salary of $6,000 and the council will remain at $1,200 annually. The council member who chairs the Public Works and Safety Committee will be compensated an additional $3,000 per year.

Orange Beach

The City of Orange Beach pays the current mayor $42,000 annually. The next term mayor will receive an increased salary of $75,000 annually and be able to purchase the city’s medical and life insurance programs, visit the employee health clinic and participate in all benefit programs provided to full-time city employees.

The current council chairperson pro-tem has a salary of $16,538 annually. In the next term that position will see a salary increase to $19,750 annually. The position includes access to medical, life insurance and other benefits afforded to full-time city employees.

Current council members make $13,401 annually but in the next term will see an increase to $18,000 annually. All council members can participate in medical and life insurance programs as well as receive other benefits provided to full-time city employees.

Robertsdale

In Robertsdale, the mayor receives an annual salary of $30,167.80. The mayor pro tem receives an annual salary of $16,073.52.

Council members receive $9,262.20 annually. Brent Kendrick receives an additional $2,400 per year bonus for completing League of Municipality training.

The next mayor and council will receive a raise which will be equal to the next cost of living raise given to employees.

Silverhill

In Silverhill, the mayor makes $6,000 annually. Council members make $2,400 annually. The council voted in February to raise the mayor’s salary to $12,000 annually and the council members’ salaries to $3,600 annually, beginning in November.

Spanish Fort

The mayor’s salary is $38,400 a year. That will increase to $40,380 when the new term begins.

Council members receive $12,000 a year. That amount will increase to $12,625 when the new term begins.

City council members voted earlier this year to approve a salary increase based on cost of living adjustments for city employees.

Summerdale

The current mayor in Summerdale has an annual salary of $20,000.04, while the current council’s annual salary is $6,300. Any elected official can participate in the State of Alabama Retirement System if they meet the requirements of the State Retirement System.

During the next term, the mayor will receive $28,500 annually and the council will receive $9,000 annually. As with the current mayor and council, any elected official will be able to participate in the State of Alabama Retirement System if they meet the requirements of the State Retirement System.