EDGERTON, Kan. — A mayor of a city with less than 1,700 people is now making $90,000 a year.
Donald Roberts has been the mayor of Edgerton, Kansas, for nine years. During his time in office, he said he has worked to build an intermodal city and attract companies like Amazon and Jet.com.
“The pace at which we are growing has really changed my job into more of the sales guy of the community,” he said.
Growth is one reason Roberts said his salary has changed.
During the regular February City Council meeting, council members unanimously voted 5-0 to increase the mayor’s salary. Before, he would receive $40 a meeting. Now, Roberts’ compensation is $7,500 per month -- $90,000 a year.
- Edgerton Mayor: $90,000 a year
- Gardner Mayor: $7,771.12 a year
- Olathe Mayor: $25,500 a year plus $400 a month for a car
- Overland Park Mayor: $32,000 plus $400 a month for a car
Roberts is making more than the mayors of Overland Park, Olathe, and neighboring Gardner; all of which have larger populations than Edgerton. He is also making more than mayors of similarly sized cities in Kansas, according to 2016 figures self-reported to the League of Kansas Municipalities.
“It is a lot of money,” admitted Roberts. “There’s really no rhyme or reasons to what any elected official makes across the country or even in Kansas, for that matter.”
41 Action News spoke with Councilman Jody Brown, who voted in favor of raising the mayor’s salary.
According to Brown, the mayor was not in attendance when the issue was being discussed and the salary decided. He also said the council looked at how many hours the mayor worked and what he accomplished to come up with the five-figure salary.
Edgerton residents 41 Action News spoke with said they “supported Mayor Roberts and his raise.”
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