East Peoria’s mayor’s salary has skyrocketed since he took office. Here’s why

About five years ago, the East Peoria City Council decided to consolidate its mayor and city administrator positions to streamline decision-making and save money.

Current East Peoria Mayor John Kahl took on this dual role when he was elected in 2019 and has held it ever since. In 2020 and 2021, Kahl earned $69,559 per year, according to annual compensation reports. He received a raise in 2022, bringing his compensation to $74,377 for the next two years, according to annual reports.

Then, Kahl’s salary jumped to $101,784 in 2024.

Why did the mayor get a big raise?

The salary increase is the result of a unanimously passed city ordinance that redefined the annual salary for someone serving as both a full-time mayor and city administrator. This order came into effect on May 1, 2023.

Mark Hill, the city’s auditor and finance commissioner, said East Peoria has not always had a full-time city administrator and last had one in 2018. That person, Jeff Eder, earned an annual salary of $125,000 in 2018, according to compensation reports.

In addition to the money saved, Hill said the board also found that combining roles was more efficient. Hill and other city officials also say the dual role is not unprecedented.

“The position had been vacant since 2018 because the (board), prior to the May 2019 position, was evaluating the need for the position and the direction they wanted to take it,” Hill said. “The council that sat in 2019 decided that the role could be filled more effectively and efficiently if it were consolidated with the position of mayor.”

East Peoria has established three pay scales for its mayor: one for part-time, one for full-time and another for a full-time mayor serving as city administrator. The definition of salary also included salary adjustments determined by the Consumer Price Index, a widely used measure of inflation. Kahl has held this dual role since his election in 2019.

Under East Peoria’s commission form of local government, the mayor and four elected commissioners are responsible for general functions and management of the city. The city administrator manages day-to-day operations and is usually appointed by the mayor and council. According to the East Peoria Code of Ordinances, the city administrator reports to the mayor. However, the administrator also reports to the entire board, as Kahl does.

“We have a great staff and together we continue to serve our community as best we can,” Kahl said. “I take great pride in serving our community and I never take a single day for granted. »

The communities of Freeport and Roselle in Illinois have similar populations to East Peoria, which is home to 22,484 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

Freeport pays City Manager William Boyer an annual salary of $145,604.99. Roselle City Administrator Jason Bielawski receives $182,054 per year in total salary, according to the annual compensation report. These mayors’ salaries are not included in the compensation reports, which do not require municipalities to include employees earning less than $75,000 in total compensation.

Why did East Peoria combine the roles?

The council’s decision not to hire an administrator was based on a “common goal” of using cost savings to make public improvements to the city’s “aging infrastructure,” Kahl said.

Both Kahl and Hill said the city has no plans to split the role again and hire an administrator. Hill said that — in addition to the money the city saved — the city’s day-to-day operations have been operating at maximum efficiency since the split. He also said that if the city hired an administrator, that person might come from outside the community and not have the same commitment to East Peoria as one of its residents.

According to the ordinance that gave Kahl his raise, if the council hires a city administrator or similar official, the mayor’s compensation will revert to previous pay levels.

“The mayor, as city administrator, has the full support of the city council,” Hill said. “As long as the results are as we have seen since the mayor chose to play two roles, I see no reason to split the roles and hire another person.”