Charter Amendment Power to Adjust Mayor and Council Salaries
Title: City Charter Amendment Power to Adjust City Mayor and Council Salaries Ballot Language: Shall the City of Naples Charter, Article 2 (Council), Section 2.5 (Salary) be amended to adjust the salary and benefits of the Mayor and City Council by ordinance based on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee?_____Yes_____No Synopsis: The City of Naples Charter, Article 2, Section 2.5 provides specific dollar amounts for Mayoral and Council Member salaries. This amendment will remove the salary figures from the Charter and allow adjustment by Ordinance (following a Blue Ribbon Committee recommendation) without the need to amend the Charter. The City Attorney has advised that amending the Charter to revise the salaries requires a public vote, so this referendum removes the legal requirement that salary changes (including those approved by City Council in 2025 and future changes) be approved by the taxpayers. Effective in1988, Mayoral and Council Member salaries have been adjusted by Ordinance, based on recommendations from a Blue Ribbon Committee. The City of Naples Charter specifies the process for the 7-person, independent Blue Ribbon Committee, whose members are appointed by the City Council. The 2025 Blue-Ribbon Committee, authorized to recommend salary adjustments to be effective with the February 3, 2026 Municipal Election, advised the City Council to “Approve a salary increase of 22 percent for the Mayor and City Council Members; and an increase in the current monthly stipend for City Council Members from $300 to $400, and for the Mayor from $400 to $500.” The City Council voted to accept this recommendation. This amendment codifies that process, removing the dollar amount of the salaries from the City Charter. Supporters: City of Naples City Council Opponents: No public officials or organizations A Yes Vote would:Remove the requirement that Mayoral and City Council raises be approved by a referendum of the voters and removing the actual amount of compensation. Instead, the salary and benefits for the Mayor and City Council will be adjusted by Ordinance, following the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee. A No Vote Would:Retain the current language in the City Charter
