Title
Introduction of Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-349 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article III, Section 2-111 of the Code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Adjusting the Compensation of the County Council
Recommended Action
I move that Council introduce Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 02-349: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article III, Section 2-111 of the Code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Adjusting the Compensation of the County Council and ask staff to assure that it is published as provided in the County Charter.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council introduce this Ordinance.
Body
The Incorporated County of Los Alamos County is a Class H County under New Mexico law. NMSA § 4-44-14 establishes the maximum salaries Los Alamos County can pay certain part-time county officers.
The salaries for the County Council are in County Code Section 2-111. These salaries were last increased in 2014 by the adoption of Los Alamos County Code Ordinance No. 02-249.
In 2018 the state legislature amended NMSA § 4-44-14 to increase the salaries payable to the County Council. This amendment will align the salaries paid for these part-time elected positions with the amounts allowed under NMSA § 4-44-14.
The salary increases contemplated are as follows:
County Councilor: from $11,022 to $12,674 per annum
County Council Chair: from $13,777 to $15,844 per annum
By law, the increases do not become effective in the middle of a term but instead become effective the first day of the term of an elected county official who takes office after the date that salary increase is approved.
By enacting the ordinance at this time, the increases will become effective after the 2024 general election, and only apply to those County Councilors elected in the 2024 general election, or subsequent elections, who take office on or after January 1, 2025.
Public Hearing Scheduled on July 25, 2023.
Alternatives
Council could not introduce this ordinance at this time.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Unplanned Item
There is minimal staff and fiscal impact.
Attachments
A - Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 02-349
B - NMSA § 4-44-14 (H-class counties; salaries)