North Pole mayor's budget adds chief of staff as council splits over vacant director job

Mayor Larry Terch's proposed 2027 budget adds a chief of staff at about $110,000 in wages and benefits, and North Pole council members questioned Tuesday whether the city needs the position alongside a vacant director of city services.

"We had talked about hiring a chief of staff or someone in the mayor's office to assist the mayor in day-to-day work, grant writing, and also the transition period between mayors," Terch said at the council's first budget work session.

He said the job could instead go to a city planner or to an attorney who also writes grants. The city's outside attorney bills run $7,000 to $9,000 a month, he said, so an in-house attorney paid about $155,000 could save money.

Terch said the council voted by resolution to hire a director of city services, but his intent had been not to fill it and to make utility supervisors department heads instead.

The chief of staff talk follows a September vote cutting the next mayor's pay from about $80,000 a year plus benefits to $2,000 a month. Councilman McGee said Tuesday no ordinance yet makes the mayor part time.

Councilman Jordan Schuster said a city of 2,500 residents does not need a director, a full-time mayor and a chief of staff. He suggested changing the director's duties to cover grants and transitions. Councilman Santa Claus agreed and said city code requires a director.

McGee said department heads are managing well without a director, and that money could fund a chief of staff.

The council made no changes at the work session. Budget workshops continue Wednesday and Thursday.