Wilmington Raises Mayor's Salary from $20,000 to $80,000

Left to Right: Bob Osborn, Jamie Knowles, Kelly Tolliver, Mary Kay Vance, Pat Haley, Matt Purkey

At the Wilmington City Council meeting on November 20, 2025, elected officials discussed the need for a full-time mayor and law director. The first reading was given of ordinance 25-74 to increase these salaries to $80k and $130k respectfully, starting in 2028, plus raise the salaries for city council so they would be eligible for OPERS government pension plans.

Council President, Matt Purkey, said "I've talked with [Mayor Pat Haley] enough to know that [the mayor] is not a part-time job... I think we definitely can speak for our friends in the law office that we need a full-time law director." Purkey went on to explain ongoing difficulties in finding people to run for these offices, and also the auditor, treasurer, and city council.

Haley added, "[The mayor is] a part-time job, [but] I work 50 hours [a week]. I'm not complaining, that's [my] choice, because it's so busy. And this pay raise won't affect me in any way... I think to reinforce what [Purkey] said, in order to get people who are willing to come in here and work full-time, you're probably going to have to raise that compensation. Especially with the law director." Councilman Michael Snarr voiced his support.

Councilman Bob Osborn was concerned about the law director’s salary, noting that the position is "elected," and since Wilmington is a statutory city, there is no state stature requiring the law director to work full-time hours. Purkey noted, "Thankfully we've had people who've done what it required of the job regardless." Haley added, "Anybody in the room can run for council or mayor, but it's different for a law director, you have to have a law degree."

Community member, Dustin Pearce, spoke during public comments on December 4, 2025, sharing plans to run for mayor in 2027 and donate his salary back to the city so elected representatives could "hire and oversee an acting, full-time and professional city manger," and focus on quality of life issues. Pearce stated, "I’m not running for the money. I want to... best manage our community’s tax dollars."

Salary increases passed on December 18, 2025, with a vote from Councilmen Knowles, Tolliver, Snarr, Osborn, Wells, and Schlabach. Learn more at wilmingtonohio.gov.