Pine Mountain Elected Officials Approve Huge Pay Increase

There was a bit of shock and awe during last week’s town council meeting in Pine Mountain.

This developed when council members approved a pay raise for the mayor and council member positions. Such a pay raise had been previously discussed as it had remained the same for a very long time, but the amount was shocking.

Prior to the council meeting, the mayor’s seat in Pine Mountain paid $1,800 per year, and the council seats paid $360 per year. At these rates, those seeking elected office in the town did not do so for the pay but rather to serve the town and residents, however that could be changing.

By a 4-1 vote, council members approved themselves a huge pay raise to $6,000 for the mayor and $4,500 each for the council members. For the mayor, this represents a pay raise exceeding 233 percent and for the council members an astounding 1,150 percent increase. By comparison, unofficial reports indicate city employees received a two percent increase and the projected Social Security increase for 2026 is just 2.8 percent.

It should be noted the mayor and council positions in Pine Mountain are not full-time positions.

Council member Thomas Scott, who serves as the mayor pro-tem, cast the sole dissenting vote regarding the pay raises.

Earlier in the meeting during the financial report, Scott had noted the town was “almost out of money” but added it was nearly the end of the fiscal year and to be expected.

IN other business, the Pine Mountain Council:

• Agreed to provide notice to businesses along Broad Street prior to council consideration of closing the street for special events. This was at the request of Dean Porter, owner of Dakota’s Counter;

• Held the First Reading of an Amendment to the Alcohol Fee Schedule which would increase the fees;

• Held the First Reading of an Amendment to the Water and Sewer Rates which would increase both;

• Approved Precision Planning to develop a plan to replace various water and sewer lines in the town and seek grants for funding such a project. Mayor Mary Ruth Mullins said some of the lines “dated back to FDR (President Frankling D. Roosevelt)”; and

• Approved seeking a $15,000 grant to plant and maintain trees in the Springdale subdivision.