2 weeks Ago
Voters were supporting a pay raise for Boulder City Council members, based on Tuesday’s early election results. The measure was passing 58.2% to 41.
8%, with 28,829 votes counted as of 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters also were leaning toward approval of measures that would allow the City Council to hold closed door executive sessions and to change the rules governing boards and commissions, based on early results. The executive sessions measure was passing 55.8% to 44.
2%, with 27,369 votes counted. The boards and commission measure was narrowly passing 50.8% to 49.
2%, with 26,928 votes counted. If approved, the pay raise measure — Issue 2C — would amend the city’s charter to give council members a pay raise starting in December 2026 by paying them salaries based on the annual area median income. Council members now receive per-meeting pay for up to 52 meetings a year and can make a maximum of $12,695.
If the measure were approved and took effect this year instead of 2026, the mayor’s salary would be $51,100. Supporters say increasing pay would encourage more people, including more diverse candidates, to run to serve on the council and would more fairly compensate council members. Opponents say council members should not receive raises in tight budget times, and the money would be better spent on core city services.
The executive sessions measure — Issue 2D — would amend the city charter to allow the City Council to call executive sessions for specific reasons, such as discussing legal and negotiation strategies. Currently, the City Council and council subcommittees are not allowed to hold executive sessions, which allow local public bodies to deliberate, but not vote, on sensitive issues such as property transactions. The boards and commissions measure — Issue 2E — would give council members the power to change terms, eligibility and meeting schedules by ordinance for the city boards and commissions that don’t have enabling charter sections.
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