Summit County Council members' total compensation in 2024 ranged from roughly $78,000 to more than $105,000, according to state auditor records, a gap driven largely by differences in benefits packages and reimbursements rather than base salary.

Then-Council Chair Malena Stevens received the highest total at $105,971, boosted by a maximum-tier benefits package costing the county $36,608 and thousands of dollars in nontaxable reimbursements. Council member Canice Harte, by contrast, had the lowest package among the five members. Harte opted for a lower-tier benefits plan costing $16,022 and claimed zero in reimbursements, putting his total near $78,000.

Armstrong claimed no reimbursements either.

The figures, drawn from the Utah State Auditor's Transparent Utah database, were highlighted in a Park Record opinion column published Wednesday, July 29, by Summit County Republican Party Chair Ari Ioannides.

Salary increase followed in December 2025

Months after the 2024 pay period ended, the full council voted unanimously on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, to raise base salaries to $70,000 annually as part of a $100.5 million county budget for 2026. The average base salary in 2024 was approximately $60,274, making the increase about 16.1%.

Council members said the raise reflected the reality that a position classified as part-time often demands 30 to 40 hours per week. Council member Megan McKenna took a pay cut when she left her full-time job to run for office and supplements her income with substitute teaching, according to TownLift's coverage of the budget vote. McKenna said the council schedule makes it difficult to consistently take on part-time work.

"This is an extraordinary budget," Armstrong said at the Dec. 10 meeting. "I would like to get this from nine figures back down to something else."

The council also discussed tying future pay to roughly half the salaries of other elected county officials, a benchmark that would push compensation closer to $79,000 in a future budget cycle.

Stevens now running for county clerk

Stevens stepped down from the council at the end of 2024 after one four-year term. The Pinebrook resident served as vice chair in 2023 and chair in 2024. She is now interim Summit County Clerk and is running for election to that position.

The current five-member council consists of Tonja Hanson, Megan McKenna, Roger Armstrong, Christopher Robinson, and Canice Harte.

No recall option in Utah

Utah law does not allow recall elections for local officeholders. Once elected, council members cannot be removed by voters for policy decisions or self-approved pay increases.

Park City's own council used Summit County's $70,000 figure as a benchmark when it voted 4-1 in May 2026 to more than double its elected officials' pay. Park City Councilmember Tana Toly noted that Summit County council compensation has risen approximately 113% over the past 12 years, compared to roughly 30% for Park City over the same period.

Current council members were not reached for comment on the compensation disparity. Individual 2024 compensation records are publicly available at transparent.utah.gov. The Summit County Council's next regular meeting has not been confirmed in available records.