City Commission considering its own pay, largely discussed via email
City Commissioners will consider adopting their budget during their Aug. 4 meeting.
Nestled within the proposed $183,142,076 of expenses is a $14,300 item that made it into the budget largely outside the public eye.
That budget item is to increase stipends for city commissioners.
During their July 21 meeting, Commissioner Joe McKenney said he was checking with city staff about paying his health insurance bill, discovering by accident that an increase to commission stipends was included in the budget.
The stipend increase was noted in the July 7 work session materials, which were publicly available the previous week, but McKenney told The Electric that he didn’t catch it in those documents because he wasn’t looking for it.
During the July 21 meeting, McKenney said it was news to him that a commission stipend increase was included in the budget.
Mayor Cory Reeves said it was discussed at a work session.
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McKenney said he didn’t recall discussing any numbers or deciding to increase the stipends.
Based on McKenney’s comments during the July 21 meeting and noticing the increased stipend in budget documents, The Electric submitted a records request for all emails associated with the stipend/compensation discussion.
McKenney also provided emails that City Manager Greg Doyon had sent him when McKenney asked if there was something he should know about stipends.
The contents of those emails are detailed below.
The Electric also checked with the city clerk’s office for a record of when commission compensation was discussed.
City staff told The Electric that it was discussed during a February work session. No other work session was included in staff records.
McKenney told The Electric that they’d discussed it at a work session a year and a half ago and he’d thought it would come up at another work session, but it didn’t.
When he was told by the city finance office that commission stipend increases were in the budget, “I thought how the hell did this get in here. I had no clue.”
McKenney told The Electric that during their Aug. 4 meeting, he will offer an amendment to strip the stipend increase from the budget so commissioners can have a separate public hearing on the proposal.
“I think we have to be transparent,” he said.
He respects his fellow commissioners and considers them friends, McKenney said, and is fine when they have differences of opinion, but “on this one, our voices are silent,” since there wasn’t a public discussion.
In the discussion that has largely been conducted via email, it was suggested that increasing the commission compensation will attract more candidates.
McKenney said he believed those would be the “wrong kind of candidates.”
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Some elected positions require a person to leave their career and those should be compensated.
But some are volunteer citizen boards, such as the commission, neighborhood councils and the school board, he said.
The Great Falls Public Schools board members receive no compensation, nor do they receive district health insurance.
Compensation for county elected officials is reviewed annually by the compensation board, as required by state law.
Those positions are generally considered full-time positions, and earlier this year, the board set county compensation at:
- county commission: $80,900.61, plus a $2,000 statutory increase
- clerk of court and justices of the peace: $80,900.61 plus a statutory increase
- treasurer and clerk of recorder: $80,900.61 plus a $5,032 statutory increase
- sheriff: $103,125.76 plus a $5,032 statutory increase and a longevity increase
- county attorney: $154,828, capped at $159,813
McKenney said that he spends hours reading his agenda packets and preparing for meetings, in addition to attending the meetings and other public events.
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But, he said a commissioner could just show up to meetings and do nothing more, so he wants to keep the commission as a volunteer body.
“City commission is not a career change,” he said.
The work session Reeves was referring to was in February 2025.
During that work session, Reeves said he wanted to look at adjusting pay for commissioners, which he said had been the same since 1988.
Under city code, the salary for each commissioner is $312 monthly. The salary for the mayor is $468 monthly.
Commissioners and the mayor also receive a $175 monthly stipend, an amount that has been unchanged for at least 19 years, according to the city clerk’s office.
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The current budget proposal is below:
Changing the commission salary requires an ordinance to amend city code, which requires a public hearing.
City officials opted to increase the stipend, which can be done in the budget without a public hearing.
Checks for each commissioner are different depending on their deductions for taxes and health insurance.
In February 2025, Reeves said he wasn’t looking to get rich or make a living off the commission salary, but asked to look at comparables to adjust for expenses since “we lose money.”
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He said he wasn’t looking to increase their pay to $1,000 a month but offered no other specifics of amounts, or whether to increase the salary or the stipend.
Commission compensation was not discussed again publicly since that February 2025 meeting, nor was it specified as a commission priority during their January 2026 retreat.
Reeves mentioned during the January 2026 retreat that because the city didn’t pay, they only attracted older retired people to run for office.
Reeves is employed part-time by GFPS and is a former city cop and former county undersheriff.
Commissioner Casey Schreiner said that he thought the time commitment deterred people from running rather than the pay.
Schreiner is employed full-time by Alluvion.
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McKenney said that “leadership is a rare trait” and not a new issue.
McKenney is a real estate agent and previously owned businesses in town, such as the Cartwheel.
Both Schreiner and McKenney are former state legislators.
Commissioners are reimbursed for any out-of-town travel if they attend training, conferences, or meetings.
Other expenses such as gas for local travel, cell phone bills, etc, are generally covered by their wage and stipend, according to city staff.
City elected officials can also participate in the city’s health insurance plan at the same rates as employees, which is detailed in this chart provided to The Electric by the city last year. These rates are expected to increase again this year.
After their term, city elected officials are eligible for COBRA benefits for 36 months, paying 102 percent of the total annual cost.
City elected officials are also:
- covered by a $30,000 term life insurance policy at the city’s expense, with an annual cost of the policies ranging from $44.40 to $68.45
- able to participate in the Montana Public Employees’ Retirement System
- the city pays 9.07 percent of the salary, stipend and health insurance on base and the elected official pays 6.9 percent for a cost to the city ranging from $1,204.06 to $1,552.20 annually
In February 2025, City Manager Greg Doyon sent a memo providing the commission’s requested information on their compensation.
In the memo, he wrote that it’s not unusual for elected officials to be paid during their terms.
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Reasons for that compensation include, Doyon wrote:
- “Inviting Qualified Candidates: Although pay is not the primary reason elected officials usually run for office, is it recognized that some compensation helps draw individuals who might otherwise be deterred by financial constraints (time, energy, effort, personal expenses). At the recent MLCT/MMIA’s Executive Forum, it was discussed that some compensation will assist in attracting younger (non-retired) citizens to run for office in the city of Helena.
- Recognition of the Demands of the Role: Serving in public office involves complex decision-making and significant time commitments. Compensation acknowledges the high level of responsibility and pressure that comes with the role.
- Covering Expenses Associated with Duties: Compensation helps cover the various costs incurred in fulfilling their role, such as training, travel, office supplies, and other necessary expenditures that ensure officials can perform their duties effectively. While the Commission receives a modest stipend, it likely does not cover all outside expenses associated with serving as a mayor or commissioner.”
In his memo, Doyon wrote that commissioners could review and discuss their current compensation, determine whether it covered actual expenses and focus on the salary, stipend or both.
Changing the salary would require an ordinance, which requires two separate commission meetings. The ordinance could include an annual cost of living adjustment or set a review cycle.
Doyon wrote that some governing bodies only adopt increases for the next slate of elected officials to avoid the appearance of giving themselves a raise, as Helena did in a resolution. He wrote that Bozeman passed an ordinance that built in a cost of living adjustment.
He wrote that commissioners could adjust their stipend by directing staff to include it in the budget, which is the route city officials have taken.
The stipend increase was not included in the department budget presentations in April or Doyon’s budget overviews in the spring and a June work session.
The discussion of commission compensation has been ongoing for nearly two years, largely outside the public view.
In August 2024, Reeves posted to Facebook and a portion of his post stated, “let me be clear: I do not serve as mayor for the money—my compensation (net) is $56 a month. I do this because I care about Great Falls and want to see it thrive. However, the constant challenges of correcting false information and addressing baseless criticisms can be incredibly taxing.”
In December 2024, Reeves sent an email to his fellow commissioners and Doyon, asking, “I know and respect it’s not a popular move, but would you all consider adjusting said stipends for the upcoming budget year? Nothing extravagant, maybe adding a few hundred dollars each month to what we all currently make. I know not one of us does our roles for the money, but we should also not lose money serving our community.”
He also asked that they consider budgeting to assign each commissioner a cell phone to keep their personal and public lives separate.
In response, Doyon shared a chart of salaries for city commissioners and mayors in other Montana cities that the human resources department had collected that summer, adding the HR director to the email thread.
Susan Wolff, former commissioner, responded to all, commenting that not all Montana cities have the same governance structure and mayors may have more duties.
For example, Missoula is the only city in Montana with a strong mayor form of government.
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For the budget year that ended in June, the Missoula mayor’s salary was $121,195.62 and the city administrator’s salary was $181,417.60.
Earlier this year, commissioners voted to increase Doyon’s salary to $216,146.93.
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For comparison, the GFPS board hired Superintendent Heather Hoyer on a three-year contract with a starting salary of $175,000.
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In her December 2024 response to Reeves, Wolff wrote that she and Wilson already had separate phones for city business. She said she added a second line to an old phone she had handy so her expense was small.
“Regarding salary, my circumstances may be different. I knew going in, this was not a ‘paid’ position and was pleasantly surprised to learn we would have health insurance,” Wolff wrote. “It is hard to know if our ‘pay’ keeps people from filing for election. I think other factors may contribute to that decision.”
Over the last decade, city commission races have been contested, except the 2019 cycle when former Mayor Bob Kelly ran unopposed.
The candidate pools, ranging in age, gender and occupation, were:
- 2025
- mayor: 2 candidates
- commission: 4 candidates
- 2023
- mayor: 4 candidates
- commission: 5 candidates
- 2021
- mayor: 2 candidates
- commission: 8 candidates
- 2019
- mayor: 1 candidate
- commission: 6 candidates
- 2017
- mayor: two candidates
- commission: 8 candidates
- 2015
- mayor: 5 candidates
- commission: 7 candidates
Doyon responded to the December 2024 email that any commissioner who didn’t already have a city-paid cell phone could get one for about $45 per month.
He wrote that “politically, it is hard to increase elected official raises (although Congress just did it last night!). Residents have little understanding of the cost of being a commissioner/mayor; whether it is personal cost, family cost, financial cost, and time and effort. Many say, ‘That’s what you signed up for!’ Personally, the best time to have the conversation is after a formal peer salary review (which we can do), or when there is a majority departing and update the wage for the incoming group, or the [commission] builds in automatic COLA (either annually or some other timeframe).”
Commissioner Rick Tryon replied all to the thread, still in December 2024, that he didn’t need a separate cell phone.
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“As it stands, retired folks, independently wealthy folks, spouses who don’t need to work (a rarity now days), and self-employed entrepreneur types with flexible work hours will continue to comprise the pool of city commission/mayoral candidates for as far as the eye can see. A very marginal pay increase won’t fix that, and maybe it doesn’t need to be fixed as long as the citizens are okay with that kind of limited demographic for representation. However, I think it will be an increasingly narrow pool of potential candidates,” Tryon wrote. “The health insurance benefit helps a lot, but here’s something to consider – everyone on the current commission, except [Reeves], either qualifies for or is currently enrolled in Medicare.”
Tryon suggested that commissioners could have the option to include their expenses, cell phone and training as part of their regular pay.
McKenney responded in the December 2024 email thread, writing that “elected public service is a significant personal, family and professional sacrifice. I like it that way.
But, the financial cost to me is huge. As an entrepreneur, those who disagree with my vote or opinion, will many times boycott my business and encourage others to do likewise. Additionally, sometimes I’m denied service by other local business owners who disagree with my political positions.
However, I’m not bothered by it. The founders of our country and many of our military personnel sacrificed way more than I ever will.
I consider my position as a commissioner a ‘volunteer’ position.
And I don’t want anyone attracted to a position on the city commission due to a possible financial gain (paycheck). I freely give my time, talents and resources to my community. Only those willing to sacrifice ought to be on the city commission.
It is not a career.”
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Reeves followed up again in December 2024, continuing to copy all commissioners, Doyon and the HR director on the email, writing, “we all know that serving on the commission isn’t about personal gain—it’s about our passion for making Great Falls a better place to live, work, and thrive. However, the reality is that the time, energy, and personal resources we dedicate to this role often come at a financial cost. Between time away from our jobs, travel, and other related expenses, it’s clear that our current compensation/stipend doesn’t reflect the demands of the position.
While I understand that being a city commissioner/mayor isn’t meant to be a career, I believe it’s reasonable—and necessary—that we’re compensated appropriately for the significant time and effort we invest. Fair compensation helps ensure that this role is accessible to all, not just those who can afford to sacrifice financially. If we want to continue attracting diverse, qualified leaders to serve our community, addressing this issue is a step in the right direction.
I’d like to propose that we consider reevaluating our pay structure, not as a means of personal benefit but as a way to ensure that public service remains sustainable and for those who wish to follow in our footsteps, regardless of age.”
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Wilson responded that perhaps they should increase the stipend to cover actual costs and if the increase was minimal, “it would be more accepted by folks.”
Reeves responded again, with all commissioners, Doyon and the HR director copied on the email, that he wasn’t advocating for “substantial changes or turning these roles into lucrative positions. Instead, I am proposing a modest increase to better reflect the time, effort, and personal resources we dedicate to serving our city. Specifically, I suggest a $250 monthly increase for city commissioners and a $350 monthly increase for the mayor.”
He wrote that he also recommended an automatic annual 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
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“As previously stated, this proposal is not about personal gain but about fairness and sustainability. Ensuring appropriate compensation can help make these roles more accessible to a broader range of individuals who might otherwise be unable to serve due to financial constraints,” Reeves wrote.
He wrote that he watched a Helena city commission meeting during which their city manager proposed a raise for commissioners that was unopposed.
Reeves didn’t specify when that Helena meeting occurred, but it was likely a 2023 Helena City Commission special meeting, which was the last time they approved a salary increase for the mayor and commissioners in a 4-1 vote. The salary was previously adjusted in 2020.
In May 2025, the Helena commission voted unanimously to reject a salary increase, citing budget constraints, as an action item on a regular agenda.
“I truly believe the overall GF community agrees we need a ‘pay bump’ for the services we provide. If I don’t have a majority commission support, I will certainly respect that but I honestly believe this topic is about being courageous and doing the right thing,” Reeves wrote in December 2024.
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In February 2025, Reeves mentioned commission compensation during a work session.
About a week later, Doyon sent a memo to commissioners with comparisons to other Montana cities and options for moving forward.
In March 2025, Tryon responded with ideas, suggesting that they could include a cost of living increase and ask the neighborhood council’s Council of Councils to act as a panel to review data and history to make recommendations on commission wages, similar to the county’s compensation board.
He closed his email asking the others not to reply all.
In April 2025, Reeves emailed his fellow commissioners that the city had reached an agreement with one labor union that changed the health insurance split from the previous 85-15 percent, with the city paying the bulk of the premiums and employees paying the remainder, to 80-20 percent.
The city has been shifting toward the 80-20 split in all its collective bargaining negotiations and agreements due to rising health insurance costs, so more city employees are paying 20 percent of their health insurance premiums, up from 15 percent.
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Reeves wrote that was why he wanted to increase commission stipends, because under the 80-20 split, as mayor, he’d have to write a monthly check to the city for his health insurance benefits.
“I seriously hope nobody finds this acceptable. I am respectfully asking for your support in doing a very modest commission stipend adjustment, but not just for me, but for those who will serve after us also. It’s up to us to make this a priority or not and advise [Doyon] of our desires,” Reeves wrote.
Wilson, a retired engineer, responded that she supported the mayor.
The commission stipend increase was not included in the city budget for the fiscal year that ran July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
In July 2025, Reeves forwarded the December 2024 email thread to the commission.
In an Oct. 31, 2025 email, Reeves emailed commissioners and Doyon, writing, “If I’m reelected, I plan to address the issue of commission compensation. My proposal is as follows:
- mayor: $1,100 monthly stipend
- commissioners: $850 monthly stipend
- cost of living adjustment (COLA): automatic 3 percent annual increase so future commissions don’t have to revisit this uncomfortable topic
- health insurance: commissioners continue to receive the city health insurance benefit, with the city covering 100 percent of the cost
I welcome other ideas or proposals, but it’s time we take action and fix this issue once and for all.
In November 2025, Reeves emailed Doyon and commissioners that a majority of commissioners told him they wanted to explore adjusting the commission stipends and that Wolff wanted to resolve the issue before she retired.
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He asked Doyon to gather information on how it would impact the general fund for their next work session.
Reeves wrote that he recommended doubling the current stipend, which is $175 monthly, and add a 3 percent annual COLA, or have the city cover commission health insurance premiums entirely.
“I also think this needs to be ‘sold’ that other services won’t be cut or this adjustment won’t significantly impact the general fund,” Reeves wrote.
In response, Doyon responded with an updated version of his February 2025 memo.
Commissioners did not discuss their compensation at their next work session.
In March 2026, Reeves emailed Doyon and commissioners that he, Wilson, Tryon and Schreiner wanted to see a proposal for a “modest” increase to commission stipends.
“I firmly believe that serving our community shouldn’t come at a personal financial loss, and at a minimum, commissioners should be able to break even. While [McKenney] has made it clear he won’t support an increase, I believe it’s still important for the rest of us to be presented with options and have the opportunity to consider a reasonable adjustment moving forward.”
Doyon responded, adding the HR director, finance director and deputy director to the thread that he’d add the stipend increase to the budget process as directed. He wrote that it would be helpful for commissioners to bring it up as a request when staff presents the initial budget; clarify whether they mean reimbursement versus stipend and salary as the salary requires an ordinance change; and define “modest.”
Reeves emailed his fellow commissioners that same weekend asking for their ideas to adjust commission pay.
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He wrote that he suspected only three commissioners would support it and that he was “thinking like a $300 monthly increase and then add a like 3 percent COLA raise every year moving forward so other commissioners don’t have to deal with this uncomfortable subject.”
Wilson responded that it’s a small increase “but absolutely can be defended for the fact that some end up paying (and with my $54 a week dropping to $22 a week this past year, I expect I will probably have to start paying very soon also). Not fair to future office holders either.”
Commissioner Casey Schreiner responded, “Remember, I am not voting to raise our pay. Sorry if there was a miscommunication on my end. When you sent the email I assumed you meant me when you put Joe. I totally understand where everyone is coming from though.”
Reeves responded to Schreiner, “Oh shit, yes, sorry, I totally misunderstood your thought! Thanks for clarifying.”
In response to Doyon, Reeves wrote that he was requesting an increase that would cover commissioners out of pocket expenses.
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“My thoughts are an additional $300 per month for the mayor’s stipend and $200 per month for each commissioner. My understanding now is that [Shcreiner] aligns with [McKenney] and will not support any increase for the commission.
I also believe we should include an automatic 3 percent annual COLA adjustment as part of any proposed stipend increase so future commissions are not forced to revisit this same issue year after year.
I am disappointed by some of my colleagues’ unwillingness to support fair compensation for the service we provide, but that is their choice. Eagles and sparrows. I have never approached this role as a politician, and I will continue to support what I believe is right rather than what is merely popular.
Please bring the proposal forward as part of the budget process and let the record clearly reflect each person’s position and vote on this matter.
Reeves later wrote in March, that he had “secured three votes (me, [Wilson] and [Tryon]) if the new stipend proposal is a monthly increase of $300 for the mayor and $200 for the commissioners.”
In late May, Doyon emailed commissioners to ensure staff was on track as they developed the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
Doyon wrote that staff was focusing on commission-related priorities and more proactive code enforcement, commission stipends, public safety, strategic development officer, pursuing recommendations from the events and Park and Rec studies, retaining a lobbyist for the legislative session and TIF districts.
Doyon asked commissioners if that was consistent with their thoughts and to let him know if he was missing anything.
In response, McKenny wrote, “I’m not interested in increasing stipends. I consider the city commission a volunteer position, much like a school board or neighborhood council. Which are also elected volunteer positions.”
Reeves wrote asking Doyon not to forget to propose a small commission increase that he, Wilson and Tryon supported.
Doyon responded, “It’s in!
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