Businessmen propose higher salary for Ogden mayor

OGDEN — A group of businessmen in Ogden wants to increase in the mayor's salary in the hopes of attracting more candidates.

The group wants the city to form a new committee to discuss the mayor's pay and whether it should be increased to align with the job's demands and complexities.

Ryan Christiansen, a senior vice president with Zions Bank, is one of those pushing the idea. He says it's difficult to get people to go into public service, especially when they get a higher salary in the private sector.

The group suggests increasing the mayor's salary after the 2011 election.

Mayor Matthew Godfrey, who is serving his third term, says that if he decides to run again and wins, he would refuse a pay hike and keep the salary at $80,000 per year.