§ 2-59. Compensation, benefits and expenses of commission.

(a)

District members of the commission shall receive $17,710.00 per year as compensation. The two commissioners elected from at-large districts shall receive $21,252.00 per year. Said salaries shall be subject to an annual cost of living increase as set forth on paragraph (b) and such salaries shall go into effect the beginning of the term commencing in 2018. District commission members shall receive payment for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office in such form and manner as the commission may authorize. All commissioners are eligible to receive at no cost individual medical and dental insurance and participate in KPERS at their option. Additionally, the commissioners may participate in a life insurance program or other voluntary supplemental employee benefit programs and options at their own expense. All commissioners will be reimbursed for car expenses by a per mile rate equal to that established annually by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

(b)

Commissioners shall be eligible to receive an annual cost of living increase based upon the average of the Consumer Price Index and the average annual increase provided under collective bargaining agreement to the bargaining units taken as a whole and their average and to which the unified government is a signatory party and then averaged for the year prior to January 1 of each calendar year.

(c)

The commission may otherwise increase or reduce the annual salary of the district and at-large commission members by legislative action of the commission; provided that the general election of the commission members follows the adoption of the ordinance by at least 120 days. No such ordinance increasing the salary of the district commission members shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms for the district commission members elected at the next general unified government election.

(Code 1988, § 2-549; Res. No. R-1-97, § 3.09, 10-2-1997; Ord. No. R-55-17 , § 1, 12-21-2017)