City Manager Marchell Adams-David, the top staff member in Raleigh, has received a 10% raise, increasing her annual salary to $356,375 effective January 1. The Raleigh City Council conducted a closed session for the manager’s annual review, and Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin announced the 10% raise. This marks the second consecutive year Adams-David has received a 10% increase. Mayor Baldwin stated that the raise was awarded to ensure equity and alignment with her peers’ salaries and was based on Adams-David achieving her annual goals.
When The News & Observer requested a copy of the goals, Mayor Baldwin responded that the goals “are developed in closed session and discussed with the city manager.” The city’s Human Resources department benchmarks similar positions across the state. Robin Deacle, the city’s communications director, mentioned that the manager sets goals each year, which are discussed in closed session according to state statute covering the performance of a public employee.
While some government employee information is public under state law, including demotions and promotions, salary information, and contract terms, other information in a public employee’s personnel file can only be shared in specific circumstances. Adams-David, who became Raleigh’s city manager in 2020, was the first woman and first African-American to hold the position. She was previously the city’s assistant city manager, having been hired in 2014. In her role, she oversees the city’s 4,000 full-time employees across 20 departments and recommends the city’s $1.3 billion annual budget to the City Council each year.