Can the salaries of governing body members be changed by a simple majority vote?

Yes, unless local procedure dictates otherwise. Although the statutes (i.e., secs. 61.32 (villages) and 62.09(6)(a) (cities)) require governing body members’ salaries to be established by an ordinance adopted by a three-fourths vote of the entire body, the League has advised that subsequent changes to the salary ordinance may be made without an extraordinary vote. See League legal opinion Salaries 340 for further discussion of this issue. (reviewed1/28/14)