Rapid City Council approves salary increase

The Rapid City Council has approved a salary increase, marking their first pay raise since 2011. During Monday night’s meeting, the council voted to raise their annual salaries from $12,928.57 to $21,582.50. The decision sparked debate over timing, with Councilman John Roberts arguing that the incoming council should determine their own pay, rather than outgoing members who wouldn’t be affected. However, Councilman Bill Evans countered that delaying the vote could create negative optics, with newly seated officials immediately adjusting their wages. Outgoing Councilman Jesse Ham supported the raise, suggesting it might encourage more candidates to run, given the demanding time commitment of the role. Moving forward, council salaries—along with the mayor’s salary—will adjust annually to reflect inflation.