Next manager's pay range opens at $180,000–$230,000 — the old ceiling is the new floor

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. — A consultant told the City Commission on Aug. 3 to advertise the next city manager job at $180,000 to $230,000 a year.

He said that is what new Florida hires are getting, named Atlantic Beach and Fernandina as comparisons, and called the current Beach manager underpaid. He recommended posting in a national managers' newsletter that reaches about 10,000 inboxes a week.

One commissioner said the last discussion had treated $180,000 as the ceiling, not the opening bid. The consultant offered to walk through recent Florida ads.

The draft timeline points to interviews after the November election, a contract in December, and a January start. The range is not a raise for the person in the job. It is what the city would print before anyone applies.

The commission still has to release the posting.