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A recent raise got everyone talking about how our local government works—and why they earn what they do.
Few things have caused a stir in Raleigh quite like the announcement of the city manager’s pay raise at a December City Council meeting. The second-consecutive 10% pay increase raising Marchell Adams-David’s annual salary to $356,375 effective Jan. 1 (up from $323,978) effectively makes her the highest paid city manager in the Triangle—and second only statewide to Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones.
That substantial raise—and income—has been the talk of the town all winter. Whether in the boardroom or at the bar, the banter was ubiquitous… sparking the repeated question: Why?
Why such a high salary?
Essentially, the City of Raleigh is the organization, and the Office of the City Manager is the administrative center, with the city manager at the helm. Thus, Adams-David executes and oversees the day-to-day operations of city government—think hirings, budget and beyond. In addition to coordinating and overseeing all City Department undertakings, supervising ~4,000 full-time city employees across those 20 departments, and proposing the city’s annual $1.3 billion budget to City Council, she serves as direct staff support for the mayor, City Council and committees, and as director of Raleigh’s future plans.
What does City Manager Adams-David do?
In short, Marchell Adams-David, who was appointed after serving ~6 1/2 years as assistant city manager, oversees a city of 472,540. Beyond her responsibilities to Raleigh’s nearly half-million population, her direct reports include four deputy/assistant managers who assist in research, public policy proposals, public program evaluation and direction of City Council, as well as a chief of administrative services, a chief of council services and, if approved in the budget, a new community relations analyst.
Why do city managers earn more than mayor/city council?
In North Carolina, according to the NC League of Municipalities, as dictated by General Charter, most municipalities—including Raleigh—are run in the form of council-manager, meaning the city manager is the chief policymaker, with city councils acting as the legislative body.
The city manager is thus the chief executive—similar to mayors in other major metropolitan areas, with one major caveat. She isn’t elected. Instead, the city manager is appointed as an administrator to implement the policies of the mayor-council, and execute and oversee the day-to-day operations of city government—think hirings, budget and beyond.
What does the mayor make?
According to the City of Raleigh, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin earns an annual base income of $37,606 per the current adopted budget (FY23), up from a former $24,550 base. Implemented in December 2002, the boost was in accordance with a pay plan recommended by a September 2021 community study group as part of a concerted effort to increase mayor and council pay to full-time-worthy living wages.
The mayor pro-tem earns $33,203 and councilmembers $30,743, the latter up from an $18,021 base. As a point of note, these base salaries exclude additional compensation for car, technology, educational courses and other expenses. Insurance is also paid on their behalf.
According to the budget highlights in the FY24 Proposed Budget, “the City Council’s adopted budget includes personnel increases ($88,825) based on the new pay plan that was adopted by Council during the FY23 budget process,” as well as “benefit adjustments ($9,533) that account for increases in health care.”
City Manager Salaries
City Manager: $356,375
Deputy City Manager: $243,248
Asst. City Manager: $208,684
Asst. City Manager: $206,679
Asst. City Manager: $188,100
TOTAL: $1,203,086
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It is hard to believe that the city manager of Raleigh NC salary is two times that of a UNITED STATE Congressman.
IT IS RIDICULOUS.