The Marthasville Board of Aldermen in March approved pay increases for elected officials along with a flat raise for all city employees.

Aldermen voted 4-0 on March 17 to increase the monthly stipends paid to elected officials. Pay for aldermen will be increased from $150 to $200 per month, while the pay for the mayor will increase from $225 per month to $500.

The pay increases only go into effect after each alderman or mayor is elected or re-elected. The elected officials can’t vote to give themselves a raise during their current term, explained City Attorney Mark Piontek.

That means Aldermen Dan Grafrath and Leo Meyer will receive the increased pay following their unopposed re-elections this week, while Aldermen Nick Lange and Chris DeVore will continue receiving the lesser pay until 2022.

Re-elected Mayor David Lange will receive the increased mayoral pay, following his victory at the polls this week.

Alderman Nick Lange commented that despite the pay increases, Marthasville still compensates its elected officials less than other towns of similar size.

Comparing to other towns in Warren County, Lange is correct that Marthasville officials are among the lowest paid. Truesdale, the town closest to Marthasville in size, pays its aldermen $300 per month and pays the mayor $1,000 per month, although Truesdale has a requirement that the mayor works 20 hours per week for the city to earn that pay.

Wright City pays $500 per month to its aldermen and $800 per month to the mayor. Warrenton pays $400 monthly to aldermen and $1,000 to its mayor.

Marthasville city employees are also receiving a flat pay increase of 50 cents per hour, which was also approved with a 4-0 vote.

Mayor Lange said the board’s vote followed a yearly review of employee performance.

“We addressed whether to do percentage raises or just a set amount, and the board was in favor of doing a set amount,” Lange commented. “It’s a lot easier, for one thing, for payroll to be figured out.”