Kira Erickson reports from the Langley City Council meeting of Mon., Nov. 17, 2025 for the South Whidbey Record. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
A proposal to increase the Langley mayor’s pay by reducing city employee cost-of-living raises and eliminating council stipends was unpopular, with even Mayor Kennedy Horstman opposing it. The mayor’s annual salary is $12,000, set with the expectation of a city administrator handling daily tasks; however, budget constraints halted hiring that role. Councilmember Rhonda Salerno’s plan would have shifted funds from staff and council to the mayor’s pay, but Horstman insisted city staff should be compensated first and would only accept more pay if finances improved. Council ultimately rejected the proposal, including Salerno herself, with plans for future private discussions on stipends in 2026.
They Said It
“I know that we had social justice reasons for doing [increasing the city councilors’ stipends], for making it available to people who needed child care and making it more accessible to the public to become a council member, but at this point, I think that the paying of our mayor is more important,” Salerno said.
While Horstman said she would like to get paid, she didn’t want it at the expense of other city employees.
“I took this job on understanding that it would be my responsibility to turn the finances of the city around, and I’m committed to that,” Horstman said. “And when the finances of the city have been turned around, I will take a paycheck.”
She pointed out that the employees did not receive a cost-of-living increase last year.
“If we want the city to continue to function, we have to compensate our staff,” she said.
Councilmember Craig Cyr agreed with the mayor’s sentiments and asked Salerno to withdraw her motion. Salerno responded that she would have thought Cyr of all people would think about giving up his compensation as a council member, since he has been wanting to pay the mayor more.
Horstman said she plans to individually approach all of the council members in private in 2026 – when there will be three new ones – to request that they consider not taking a stipend.
