WINTER HAVEN, FL — Winter Haven city commissioners approved an increase in their compensation in a 3-2 vote during the Tuesday, Sept. 15, City Commission meeting. Commissioner Chad Davis said commissioners currently receive roughly $13,000 annually in compensation, or about $17,000 including a local expense allowance. Under the newly approved ordinance, commissioners will receive approximately $20,150 in annual base salary, or about $24,180 including the local expense allowance, beginning Oct. 1.
The increase drew opposing views from Davis and Mayor Brian Yates during the meeting. Davis defended the increase, arguing that compensation should reflect Winter Haven’s growth and the responsibilities placed on commissioners, while Yates maintained his opposition.
“Serving on this commission is an honor, but it is also a job,” Davis said.
Davis pointed to commissioners’ responsibility for a roughly $370 million city budget and policy decisions affecting tens of thousands of residents. He said Winter Haven is the second-largest city in Polk County, yet its commissioners were receiving less compensation than officials in Haines City, Bartow and Lake Wales.
Davis said he reviewed the average per-capita compensation of Polk County municipalities, excluding cities with fewer than 6,000 residents because he believed their smaller populations would skew the comparison. Based on that analysis, Davis said approximately $20,000 in salary, or $24,000 including the local expense allowance, was appropriate for Winter Haven commissioners.
Mayor Yates took a different position.
“I’ve been a no on this from the beginning. I’ll still be a no on this tonight,” Yates said.
Yates described serving Winter Haven as “an honor of a lifetime,” referring to the community as his hometown and his city.
Davis also addressed criticism of the increase, saying claims that raising commissioners’ salaries constituted wasteful spending or personal enrichment were “emotionally charged but factually unsupported.”
Davis said he had previously offered an amendment that would allow any commissioner opposed to the increase to forgo their salary.
“No one took me up on that offer,” Davis said.
Ordinance O-26-21 ultimately passed 3-2, with Mayor Yates and Mayor Pro Tem Tracy Mercer voting against the measure. The ordinance was introduced on first reading Aug. 24 before returning for second reading and a public hearing Sept. 15.
Under the ordinance, the base salary established in the city code changes from $706.75 to $1,679.17 per month, setting the new annual base salary at $20,150.04. The new monthly local expense allowance is $335.83, bringing a regular commissioner’s annual base salary and local expense allowance to approximately $24,180.
The mayor also receives an additional expense allowance of $322.83 per month. Including the base salary and both expense allowances, the mayor’s annual compensation will total approximately $28,054.
The ordinance states that the commission determined the adjustment was appropriate to account for increasing demands associated with Winter Haven’s population growth.
Commissioners will continue receiving annual cost-of-living adjustments when active city employees receive an across-the-board cost-of-living percentage increase. If employees do not receive such an increase, commissioners will not receive the adjustment.
The ordinance also allows commissioners to be reimbursed for out-of-town expenses incurred while performing their official duties.
The compensation increases take effect Oct. 1, 2026. Nothing further.
SOURCE: WINTER HAVEN CITY COMMISSIONERS MEETING & ORDINANCE O-26-21.
