The City Council on Wednesday approved a $20,000 raise for Municipal Judge Ann Yalman, who is running unopposed in Tuesday's municipal election.

Yalman, who has served the last 14 months of former Judge Frances Gallegos' third term, will now make $85,000 a year, though she will no longer have the use of a city car. Yalman is the first lawyer to serve as Santa Fe municipal judge. Gallegos resigned after being charged with criminal records tampering, charges that were later dismissed.

The raise was previously approved by the city Finance Committee based on a 2007 report by the Judicial Compensation Commission for the state Legislature that looked at the average salaries of Magistrate Court judges, according to a memo from City Manager Galen Buller.

The raise is timely, Buller said Wednesday night, because state laws don't allow raises for sitting judges. This pay hike goes into effect upon Yalman's re-election.

Also, under the city charter, the council is supposed to review the city judge's salary every four years, though that hasn't been done since 2001, the memo says. Finally, the city wanted to bring Yalman's salary up to a level comparable to other city department directors, according to the memo.

Mayor David Coss said the increase has nothing to do with the fact Yalman is a lawyer. However, during discussion of the raise, Councilor Karen Heldmeyer asked if the city could lower the salary if a proposed municipal charter amendment requiring the city judge to be a lawyer doesn't pass.

"If that is not passed, and after four years another person is elected, and some of the duties go away, does the city have the option of lowering the salary?" Heldmeyer asked.

Buller said that could be done.

In the meantime, Coss gave Yalman high marks for her performance. "I think Judge Yalman's done a good job," he said. "And she's still a people's judge. She really reaches out to the community. She's empathetic and compassionate."

Councilors approved the raise by a vote of 7-1. Councilor Matthew Ortiz said he voted against the raise because it was too much of an increase. The judge currently makes $65,000 a year.

"There are other needs in the city and other employees who need a raise as well," he said.

SALARIES AT A GLANCE

Annual salaries for Santa Fe's elected and appointed officials include:

• Municipal Court Judge Ann Yalman $65,000 (increases to $85,000 in May)
• City Manager Gallen Buller, $120,000
• City Attorney Frank Katz, $108,209
• All city councilors and the mayor, $25,709
• County magistrates $70,081
• City Clerk Yolanda Vigil $81,606