Council Votes to Raise Top Officials' Pay | Des Moines News

Des Moines City Council just approved hefty pay raises for top officials — city manager Scott Sanders now earns $337,563, while city attorney Jeffrey Lester and city clerk Laura Baumgartner get $264,472 and $151,528 respectively — sparking heated debate after a 5-2 vote. Opponents, Council Members Rob Barron and Josh Mandelbaum, slammed the move, warning of looming budget deficits and potential job losses, calling bonuses like the city manager’s 6.5% retention pay “excessive” in tough times. Supporters countered that top salaries are essential to attract and retain critical, experienced leadership — especially as the council previously rejected their own pay hikes earlier this year amid financial strain. The compensation showdown continues as Des Moines balances fiscal responsibility with leadership needs. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1ea64bc3a5516bcf