Bell said West Jordan changed its overall salary structure after a 2001 study by a private consultant who found the city's salaries were "probably some of the lowest in the valley."

For Kroes, the vast disparity between some of those lowest-paying cities and areas like Sandy may just have to be chalked up to the discretion of city leaders and to the fact that some cities are simply wealthier.

"They obviously are going to hear from some of their taxpayers when they read this story," he said. "But that is ultimately their decision. No one can say cities should all pay the same amount."

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