WARREN, Ohio - Members of Warren’s City Council are scheduled to consider legislation this week that would make sure that Mayor Doug Franklin is the highest-paid employee in the city, and change salaries for other elected city officials.

Draft legislation to be reviewed during a council meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday would change the salaries of the Mayor, Director of Public Service and Safety, Auditor, Deputy Auditor, Law Director, Deputy Law Director, Treasurer, and Council members as early as next year.

The proposed ordinance says the changes are to “meet the increased responsibilities and duties” of those offices and are being considered as an emergency measure “necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, welfare, and safety.”

If passed, effective January 1, 2024, the mayor’s annual wages would be raised to exactly one percent above the highest city wage-earner’s base salary. The mayor would also receive health care insurance coverage, health care insurance benefits, life insurance coverage, and life insurance benefits as established for Warren’s non-bargaining personnel.

”At no time as of January 1, 2024, and thereafter shall the Mayor of the City of Warren, Ohio’s annual wages be less than one percent higher than the City’s highest wage-earners base wages,” according to the proposed measure.

The proposal does not list Mayor Franklin’s current or proposed salary.

According to govsalaries.com, public records show that in 2022 Mayor Franklin had an annual salary of $87,789. The salary is 76 percent higher than the median salary in the City of Warren, according to the website.

The highest-paid Warren City Employee last year was Police Lt. Timothy Parana who made $105,036 last year, according to govsalaries.com.

The legislation would also make changes to the salaries of the following elected officials:

  • Effective January 1, 2024, the Director of Public Service and Safety annual wages would be increased to ninety-eight percent of the mayor’s annual salary.
  • Effective January 1, 2024, the Auditor’s annual wages would be increased to ninety-nine percent of the mayor’s annual wages.
  • Effective January 1, 2024, the Deputy Auditor’s annual wages would be increased to ninety-five percent of the Auditor’s annual salary.
  • Effective January 1, 2024, the Director’s annual wages would be increased to ninety-nine percent of the mayor’s annual wages.
  • Effective January 1, 2024, the Deputy Law Director’s annual wages would be increased to ninety-five percent of the Law Director.
  • Effective January 1, 2026, the Treasurer’s annual wages would be increased to not less than twenty percent of the mayors.
  • Effective January 1, 2024, Councilmember’s annual wages would be increased to not less than twenty percent of the mayors. 

The legislation is being submitted by seven of Warren’s eleven council members including: Greg Greathouse, Third Ward; Helen Rucker, At-Large; Todd Johnson, First Ward; Ronald White Sr., Seventh Ward; James Shaffer, Fourth Ward; Ashley Miner-McBride, Fifth Ward; Gary Steinbeck, at large.

The proposed legislation may be seen below: