Bangor Councilors Earn $2,000 a Year While Portland Pays $9,580
The stipend hasn't changed since 2001, and councilors are split on whether a raise, which needs voter approval, would draw more candidates.
Bangor city councilors receive $2,000 a year, the smallest stipend among Maine's five largest cities even though Bangor ranks third in population, the Bangor Daily News reported.
The council chair gets $500 more. Portland pays its councilors $9,580 plus city health benefits, and Lewiston pays $4,000. Among the state's 10 largest cities, only Biddeford pays councilors less than Bangor does.
Bangor last raised the stipend in 2001, from $400 to $2,000, and the increase was delayed until after the 2004 election. Adjusted for inflation, $2,000 then equals more than $3,500 now. The charter lets the council raise pay by ordinance, but voters must approve it in a referendum, and it would take effect the next fiscal year.
City Manager Carollynn Lear told the newspaper that low pay and heavy time demands likely keep people who work full time or care for family members from running. Councilor Joe Leonard supports a raise, along with voting wards and a full-time mayor.
Other councilors were skeptical. Susan Faloon said a raise would matter only if it replaced a paycheck, and she favors information sessions for would-be candidates. Carolyn Fish said the job takes more time than people realize but doubted a small raise would draw more candidates. Michael Beck said a raise could be "a solution looking for a problem."
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
