Kearns raised its first administrator's pay ceiling to $225,000 after budgeting $180,000

The Kearns City Council raised the maximum yearly compensation for the city administrator position to $225,000 on July 21, 2026, up from the $180,000 package it authorized in 2025. ^[1]

Ordinance 2026-O-13 says total compensation 'will be up to and not to exceed $225,000 each fiscal year,' including a salary of up to $150,000 and no more than $75,000 for benefits. ^[1]

What the ordinance replaced

The ordinance repeals Ordinance 2025-O-12, which the council approved on June 9, 2025, authorizing a total package of up to $180,000, including salary and benefits. Its recitals say that package was then included in the 2026–2027 budget. ^[1]

The recitals say market trends for city manager and administrator positions changed after 2025, and the council wanted the package to 'align better with the current market for qualified candidates.' The council held a public hearing July 21. ^[1]

Council members Chrystal Butterfield, Lorrin Colby Jr. and Lyndsay Longtin and Mayor Jesse Valdez voted yes. Schaeffer voted no. The ordinance took effect July 22, 2026. ^[1]

The budget it changes

The FY2027 budget adopted June 8 lists $326,200 for Fund 50 wages, with a note reading 'City Council 116,200, Administrator 180,000.' It leaves medical insurance out of Fund 50 with the note 'Budgeted in fund 55.' ^[2]

Fund 55 budgets $100,000 for medical insurance, noted as 'Health Insurance Full Benefits.' ^[3]

The July ordinance authorizes and directs the mayor and staff to prepare an amendment to the 2026–2027 budget for the council to approve at a future public hearing. ^[1]

The office in city code

According to the Sept. 14, 2026 minutes in the council's Oct. 5 packet, the council voted 5–0 to approve Ordinance 2026-O-17, which creates Chapter 2.02 on the city administrator. The minutes list Charles Henderson as city administrator. ^[4]

The draft of that ordinance in the Sept. 14 packet is unsigned. Its recitals say the council 'has executed an employment agreement with Charles Henderson,' and it ratifies his appointment as the city's first administrator. Its summary page numbers it 2026-O-16. ^[5]

The draft makes the administrator the city's budget officer, responsible for preparing the annual budget and proposed amendments. It lets the administrator sign contracts if the funds are specifically appropriated, the council has approved any procurement larger than a small or emergency purchase, and no city real property is conveyed. ^[5]