HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – An ordinance that would increase the annual salary of city councilmembers by $8,000 was presented for a first reading at the Feb. 3 Hopkinsville City Council meeting. Several residents spoke their minds to the council, opposing the increase.
Public discussion about a raise began during the January meeting of the Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole. Initiated by Councilmember Clayton Sumner it was proposed that councilmembers coming into office next term have a salary increase from the current $14,000 to the suggested $22,000. This figure was determined by comparisons to councils in surrounding cities as well as the Christian County Fiscal Court Salary, which is currently $21,500 with health care.
Opposition from residents during city council meeting
“This is not an attack on councilmembers, or a denial of the work involved,” said Hopkinsville resident Tiffany Pittman during the meeting. “This is about priorities, timing, and public trust…public service is about sacrifice, not salary.”
Pittman was one of five individuals who spoke against the raises during public comments on Feb. 3. She suggested that available funds should go toward infrastructure, public safety, or other avenues that invest in the community. Three men also spoke their minds, with a resident named Joe Turner voicing that that councilmembers do deserve a raise, but he felt that the proposed amount was “way out of line.”
“While I understand the intent may be to attract diverse talent, the optics and the fiscal implications of such a significant raise demands scrutiny. Public service versus career,” said Jamie Lienberger, a former councilmember and current candidate. She added that the pay the council receives is intended to act as a stipend, and this proposal feels disconnected from the financial reality of the city.
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City council decision about raises
“We eliminate people from being able to run for these offices when it’s not compensated correctly,” said Sumner during the meeting. City Attorney Doug Wilcox explained that it is the council’s responsibility to set the compensation for the positions, reinforcing that they are unable to enact a raise for the current term. Although some candidates for city council in 2026 are running unopposed, Wilcox said there is no legal conflict of interest.
Councilmember Travis Martin also clarified that the compensation survey they did to compare salaries and kickstart discussion was started over the summer, well before the candidate filing deadline for the 2026 election.
“It just seems not right,” said Councilmember Donald Marsh during lengthy discussions. “We heard tonight from just a very small sampling of the city…and I think we ought to get our hands out of the taxpayers’ pockets to be quite honest with you.”
A motion was presented by Councilmember Brandi Stallons to table the vote until March, but it did not pass.
Councilmember Donald Marsh, Chuck Crabtree, Vance Smith, Elizabeth Draude voted against the raise, with Brandi Stallons abstaining. The ordinance passed the first reading with the other seven councilmembers voting in favor. A second reading will take place at the next city council meeting before it takes effect.
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