Council introduces ordinance to raise council salaries beginning next term

Council staff introduced an ordinance on Aug. 4 that would increase annual salaries for Dorchester County council members beginning with the next term. The staff presentation cited constitutional and local code provisions required for salary changes and noted that any increase would not apply to sitting members during their current term.

During the meeting a council speaker read the introduction and members moved to introduce the legislation and schedule a public hearing. The transcript notes the council compensation would rise from $16,000 to $21,000 with an additional $1,000 for the president in the first year after enactment; council members said the change is intended to reflect responsibilities for future officeholders. The council scheduled a public hearing for the matter and will provide the public with the ordinance materials on the county website ahead of that hearing.