According to multiple sources inside LR City Hall, last term mayor Mark Stodola wants to have his salary increased so that he will receive more money in retirement benefits when he leaves office in January 2019.
Stodola will walk away with a check for approximately $173,623.00 for unused vacation pay when he leaves office in January 2019.
That payment is roughly equal to 13 months pay at his salary of $160,000 a year.
Stodola also retains $78, 496.61 is funds carried over from his last campaign for office. He can keeps these funds, return them to donors or donate them.
A confidential and reputable source inside city hall told us that Stodola wants to get this salary bump to increase retirement benefits to help offset medical expenses for his ailing wife.
Our condolences and sympathy to the mayor, his wife and his family but set up a GoFundMe account for that or jump on Arkansas Works like regular folks do when hard times hit.
***UPDATE 11/9/18 10:50 AM***
Other media outlets contacted us and stated sources were telling them the same thing. Word is that the unused vacation payout will be significantly higher. Stodola is also trying to negotiate a deal to continue on the city health insurance program.
*** UPDATE 11/10/18***
The City Attorney advises that Stodola can continue on the city health insurance place after he leave office but he has to pay 100% of the premiums. Apparently this is something that the city board approved many years ago for any former mayor over the age of 70.