Llano extends contract for city manager, approves 12 percent pay increase
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — Llano City Council members approved a 12 percent increase in salary and extended the length of the city manager’s contract from one year to 18 months in light of his work on both city and economic development projects, officials said.
Llano City Manager Brenton Lewis’ contract, which increased from $80,000 to $90,000 per year, goes into effect April 1.
“That still is considerably below the average salary of city managers in the Highland Lakes and still considerably lower than in cities with populations of 2,000-5,000 people,” Llano Mayor Mike Virdell said. “We still feel like, for what he’s getting paid, the city is getting its money’s worth.”
Lewis, hired in April 2013, was initially paid $80,000 per year plus benefits; however, the council added $10,000 more to his pay in September to handle the responsibilities of a retired city of Llano economic development director.
Her salary was about $45,000 per year.
In his added economic development duties, Lewis coordinates activities, including Llano Main Street projects. This is a grant- and city-funded program, which for the past 10 years has helped pay for renovations to building facades and assisted in the development of the city’s old railyard to attract tourism and businesses.
“There was not any additional money taken out of the budget. This was money already budgeted Oct. 1 2013-14,” said Virdell of the director’s salary applied to the city manager’s salary. “Brenton will end up getting $800 per month (more) while he’s being Main Street director until we hire a new one sometime next month.”
Also, Lewis works in collaboration with the Llano Economic Development Corp. as an ex-officio board member.
The council not only amended Lewis’ new contract to reflect the $10,000 annual increase but also expanded the length of the new contract by six more months.
City officials are expected to continue their search for a new city economic development director/city administrative assistant with a possible salary cap of $38,000 per year, officials said.
connie@thepicayune.com