Joplin council to discuss pay increases for some city leaders, sports complex CID

It’ll be a busy night for the Joplin City Council, with several big topics on the agenda.

One of those will be a pay increase for a group of city leaders, with more raises possible in the future for council members themselves.

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez told the KZRG Morning Newswatch that one of their bills would introduce annual pay raises for four city staff positions—public defender, municipal judge, city attorney, and city clerk— with a combined 4.5% increase made up of a 2.5% step raise and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment.

Cortez says these increases follow recent performance reviews and reflect a conservative approach compared to typical private sector raises around 3-4%. He also emphasized the modesty of these raises, noting the city’s intent to balance fiscal responsibility with fair compensation.

The mayor also told Newstalk KZRG they are looking into City Council members’ own pay through the Charter Review Commission, which may recommend raising the current nominal rate of $5 per meeting up to several hundred dollars per meeting.

On another note, council members will also be discussing the Woodsonia Marketplace Community Improvement District, which will help improve and support infrastructure upgrades for the $375 million indoor sports complex via a targeted local tax.

Council will also talk about helping the Area Agency on Aging, who without federal funds, will be unable to provide meal services for vulnerable/at-risk senior citizens.

Cortez says their proposed bill would fund four weeks of assistance.