Dolan's after-tax bonus comes on top of his $109,000 annual salary - courtesy of a decision back in 1997 by the city administrator, finance director and human-resources manager, all of whom have received tens of thousands of dollars in incentive pay under Dolan's rule.

Assistant City Administrator Scott Bond, then the city's human-resources manager, says the group decided that, since each department gets 1 percent of its payroll to hand out as incentives, Dolan and the council also should be eligible for the perk.

Sandy officials insist Dolan's bonus is "automatic" - he gets it regardless of his performance or the city's financial standing - and point out that the four-term mayor has never asked for it.

But he also never has turned it down - as council members regularly do.

Three council members - Dennis Tenney, Scott Cowdell and Linda Martinez Saville - took the money in 1997. None has since.

"I don't have to ask them. They just don't take it," says council office director Phil Glenn. "They feel that their job should be evaluated by the electorate at the election, and that it's not appropriate to take a bonus."

Dolan didn't question the bonus when he first received it three years after he entered office, and he doesn't question it now. But he does say his compensation is "adequate" and notes that he has refused three consecutive merit pay raises because of that.

A bonus is an uncommon perk for an elected official. And the concept baffles some elected leaders.

Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall says his suburb has "never even considered" supplementing his $79,000 salary.

"Elected officials should always be separate from merit employees," he says. "Our ultimate evaluation is every four years."

But Dolan isn't your average suburban mayor. His aggressive public agenda and private politicking set him apart from other go-along-to-get-along types. Under his leadership, Sandy has become a major player in Utah politics, competing for - and often winning - major development projects (like Real Salt Lake's soccer stadium) and public dollars.

Dolan says he didn't even know council members have been declining their extra 1 percent, which would be worth about $160 a year.

Council Chairman Chris McCandless views his part-time council work as a public service. Council members earn $16,000 a year. He gets an additional $8,000 for his extra work as chairman.

"We don't want to make having a job as a city councilman something that people are aspiring to because of the salary," McCandless says.

But he sees "a difference" with the full-time mayor's job.

"I want him motivated - and it [the bonus] seems to be working," McCandless says. "If the system's not broke, don't look for a cure."