The City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to boost its members' monthly pay by 65 percent - from $325 to $500 - and to set Mayor Don Richardson's annual part-time salary at $27,700.

The council first considered raising its pay to $600 a month, but Councilman Vincent Liddiard moved to lower it to the $500 median for council members in other Utah cities.

Councilman David Lifferth was the only member who opposed the deal. He said the mayor's compensation was fair, but he opposed additional pay for the council through an ordinance.

"That's the kind of issue that should be campaigned upon by those running for office and justified by voters," Lifferth said. "It's a principle thing. The people who get elected to office shouldn't be able to compensate themselves."

Councilwoman Linn Strouse had originally opposed the pay hike, saying she wanted more accurate numbers on council compensation in surrounding cities. Now, she said she's received that data and believes Eagle Mountain's council deserved a boost to attract future public servants.

"We don't want to limit the number of people willing to run for public office," she said. "It broadens the pool of applicants when people are adequately compensated."

The council also came up with full- and part-time mayoral salaries of $70,000 and $27,700 respectively. Both figures include benefits.

The council's move leaves it up to mayoral candidates to declare whether they would run for a part- or full-time position so residents can decide what they want in their top elected official. After being elected, a mayor could request a change in that status. But such a move would require proper noticing, a public hearing and the City Council's support.

Richardson has been working as a part-time mayor since late last year when he replaced Brian Olsen. Richardson was being paid hourly, based on the full-time rate.

"You're called all throughout the day and night sometimes, so it's very hard to keep track of your time," Richardson said. "You're not always accurate because you're thinking back to when you got a call in the car or at night or in the office. It's almost a lifestyle."

And while he supported setting the separate rates for mayoral compensation and having candidates declare their intent, Lifferth wants a full-time mayor.

"I served as a full-time mayor in 2005 and was very busy," he said. "This city is growing rapidly. There are a lot of issues, and a mayor needs to be available all the time to do their mayoral duties.

sgehrke@sltrib.com