Salaries and Emoluments Commission recommends no mayor pay increase, raises school board stipends
March 04, 2026 | Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska
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The Fairbanks North Star Borough Salaries and Emoluments Commission voted Wednesday to recommend maintaining the mayor’s base salary at $132,860 and applying an annual cost-of-living adjustment, while endorsing raises for school board stipends and leaving assembly pay and Interior Gas Utility (IGU) board compensation unchanged.
Commission member Tracy said the commission’s review of Human Resources data and its 2024 restructuring supported recommending no base adjustment for 2026, saying, “I would like to recommend that we keep the base…that no base salary adjustment be recommended in 2026.” The motion to maintain the mayor’s salary at $132,860 annually and include an annual COLA of not less than 2% and not more than 4% based on the Alaska urban consumer price index passed after commissioners voiced their support.
The commission debated whether to change the assembly stipend and concluded the current stipend structure should stand. Commissioners described assembly service as civic and community work and said recent adjustments had kept the pay broadly comparable to peer boroughs. A motion to recommend maintaining the assembly stipend carried with verbal affirmative votes.
On school board compensation, the commission moved to raise the monthly stipend from the level shown in the earlier survey to $1,000 for school board members and $1,200 for the board president. Under the recommendation, new members would be eligible to opt into district-provided health insurance only if they pay the premium; current members who already participate would be grandfathered. Tracy said the change was intended to “bring the school board closer in line with the assembly” while leaving insurance opt‑in decisions to the district. Staff was asked to provide the number of current school board members who use district insurance and the approximate cost so the commission can refine recommendations at its next meeting.
Commissioners also considered compensation for the Interior Gas Utility board given potential future workload if a gas pipeline proceeds. Citing the IGU’s historical volunteer model and unclear additional workload, the commission repeated the 2024 recommendation and recommended no compensation for IGU board members at this time; commissioners noted they could revisit the issue if IGU’s duties expand.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda (minutes from 02/18/2026) — approved; mayor salary recommendation (maintain at $132,860 with 2–4% COLA tied to Alaska urban CPI) — approved; assembly stipend recommendation (maintain current stipend) — approved; IGU board compensation (no compensation) — approved; school board stipend recommendation (members $1,000; president $1,200; new members may opt into insurance by paying the premium; current participants grandfathered) — approved. In each case the transcript records verbal “ayes” and no recorded opposition.
What’s next: staff will be asked to supply the number of school board members currently enrolled in district-provided insurance and an estimate of the insurance cost; the commission scheduled its next meeting for March 25 to finalize any outstanding clarifications.
The commission adjourned after briefly confirming the March 25 meeting date.
Commission member Tracy said the commission’s review of Human Resources data and its 2024 restructuring supported recommending no base adjustment for 2026, saying, “I would like to recommend that we keep the base…that no base salary adjustment be recommended in 2026.” The motion to maintain the mayor’s salary at $132,860 annually and include an annual COLA of not less than 2% and not more than 4% based on the Alaska urban consumer price index passed after commissioners voiced their support.
The commission debated whether to change the assembly stipend and concluded the current stipend structure should stand. Commissioners described assembly service as civic and community work and said recent adjustments had kept the pay broadly comparable to peer boroughs. A motion to recommend maintaining the assembly stipend carried with verbal affirmative votes.
On school board compensation, the commission moved to raise the monthly stipend from the level shown in the earlier survey to $1,000 for school board members and $1,200 for the board president. Under the recommendation, new members would be eligible to opt into district-provided health insurance only if they pay the premium; current members who already participate would be grandfathered. Tracy said the change was intended to “bring the school board closer in line with the assembly” while leaving insurance opt‑in decisions to the district. Staff was asked to provide the number of current school board members who use district insurance and the approximate cost so the commission can refine recommendations at its next meeting.
Commissioners also considered compensation for the Interior Gas Utility board given potential future workload if a gas pipeline proceeds. Citing the IGU’s historical volunteer model and unclear additional workload, the commission repeated the 2024 recommendation and recommended no compensation for IGU board members at this time; commissioners noted they could revisit the issue if IGU’s duties expand.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda (minutes from 02/18/2026) — approved; mayor salary recommendation (maintain at $132,860 with 2–4% COLA tied to Alaska urban CPI) — approved; assembly stipend recommendation (maintain current stipend) — approved; IGU board compensation (no compensation) — approved; school board stipend recommendation (members $1,000; president $1,200; new members may opt into insurance by paying the premium; current participants grandfathered) — approved. In each case the transcript records verbal “ayes” and no recorded opposition.
What’s next: staff will be asked to supply the number of school board members currently enrolled in district-provided insurance and an estimate of the insurance cost; the commission scheduled its next meeting for March 25 to finalize any outstanding clarifications.
The commission adjourned after briefly confirming the March 25 meeting date.
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