City Council approves amended council member salary raise

After receiving more public disapproval, the Hopkinsville City Council voted to amend the council member salary raise to a 3% increase at Tuesday’s meeting.

In the original salary raise proposal, a majority of council members were seeking a raise of over $7,000, which would increase their current salary of $14,777.75 to $22,000 per year. At the City Council meeting on February 3, community members shared their opposition to the raise, and they did the same at Tuesday’s meeting.

At January’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Ward Seven Council Member Clayton Sumner said Christian County Fiscal Court Magistrates receive more compensation than council members; while explaining why he supported the raise. Citizen and local business owner Kathy Detraz criticized that reasoning, saying that magistrates represent far larger districts and many more people than council members.

Along with Detraz, nine other citizens spoke against the raise. The council approved the proposed raise at a prior meeting, but when it came time to vote on it again, council members offered a few amendments.

Ward Six Council Member Travis Martin proposed an amendment to implement the raise over the course of three years, but it was not approved. On the other hand, council members approved an amendment by Ward Four Council Member Chuck Crabtree to lower the raise to a 3% increase.

According to City Clerk Brittany Byrum, Crabtree’s proposal will result in council member salaries increasing to $15,620.88 per year. Council members will vote again on the amended raise at a March city council meeting, and if it is approved, the raise will be implemented starting in 2027.

As a result of the lowered raise, Sumner asked Mayor J.R. Knight if city departments would still undergo possible 2% budget cuts. Knight says payroll numbers have been down recently, but they will look into removing the suggested cuts.

Beyond the salary raise, the City of Hopkinsville received a clean audit report from Kelly Webb of York, Neel and Associates, LLP.

Council members also voted to establish an all-way stop at the intersection of Blane Drive and Noel Avenue and to make West Edmunds Street a one-way with traffic only traveling from South Main Street to West 19th Street. Both ordinances were approved on second reading.