Hopkinsville City Council advances proposal to raise next-term salaries

The Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole decided to move forward with a salary increase for future councilmembers.

Christian County NowHopkinsville Municipal Center and city council chambers. May 7, 2024 (Daynnah Carmona)

HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Councilmembers in Hopkinsville are taking the first step to increase the salary of people serving on the council in the future, with an ordinance moving forward to give the next term an $8,000 raise.

Councilmember Clayton Sumner initiated discussions during the Jan. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting saying that having a lower salary discourages citizens from seeking office, “Small business owners, single parent families, they can’t afford to run. They can’t afford to try and serve.”

According to information presented by the city’s human resource department, councilmembers in Hopkinsville receive a salary an annual salary of $14,000, which is on the lower end in the region. This pay was established by a city ordinance from 2013. Here are the local salary comparisons in Christian County.

Hopkinsville City Council salary: $14,000
Christian County Fiscal Court salary: $21,500 plus health insurance
Oak Grove City Council salary: approximately $2,500

Sumner proposed that they raise the city council salary to $22,000. Comparatively, councilmembers in Madisonville are paid $16,000, while in Murray they are paid $4,000. Larger cities where there are commissioner roles see higher pay, with Bowling Green the highest at $34,000 and Paducah right behind at $28,000.

Higher salary moves forward

Out of 12 cities in the region outside of Christian County that were surveyed for salary and benefits, Hopkinsville and Murray are the only two that do not provide health insurance. Both cities also have the highest number of councilmembers at 12. Kenneth Grabara, Human Resources Director said that currently, the city pays just over $3 million a year on employee health insurance.

“The reality is that council is a part time position, and I don’t think health care should be offered,” said Councilmember Amy Craig. “That’s not fair to the part time city employees that the city council would be offered health care and they wouldn’t.”

Councilmembers voted on and approved the motion to modify the existing ordinance for a $22,000 salary. The ordinance will now go to the Hopkinsville City Council for a first a second reading. Adding health insurance was not part of the vote.

City Attorney Doug Wilcox added that if approved by the council, this would go in effect in January of 2027. Councilmembers are unable to vote to change the salary for themselves, it would have to be for the next term. Because of the upcoming election, the ordinance would have to passed before May of this year.