By John Tuohy

One might assume the mayors of the biggest Indiana cities would be paid the highest salaries. Larger city, more employees, more responsibilities, more problems — more money.

But it doesn't work that way.

Greg Ballard, mayor of the state's largest city — by far — is just the 8th highest paid mayor in the state. In fact, mayors in cities nearly 10 times as small make more money than Ballard.

At the top of the list is Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, a former state attorney general and Harvard Law School graduate elected in 2011 as the the first black woman mayor in the state.

Fishers' first mayor-elect, Scott Fadness, who takes office Jan. 1, is not on the list. His salary has not yet been approved but his proposed pay would rank him third highest in the state.

Three of the top 10 highest-paid mayors are from Indianapolis suburbs, not including Fadness. But an honorable mention goes not to a mayor, but a town manager, who makes more than any mayor.

Thomas DeGuilo, administrator of Munster — population 23,413 — makes $135,965 a year.

These are the 16-highest paid mayors in the state:

1. Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson

Salary per year: $129,922.

Took office: 2012.

Gary population: 79,170.

Size rank: ninth.

City employees: 1,100.

Income per person (per capita): $15,764.

2. Fort Wayne Mayor Thomas Henry

Salary per year: $127,289.

Took office: 2008.

Fort Wayne population: 254,555.

Size rank: second.

City employees: 2,000.

Income per person: $23,585.

3. Carmel Mayor James Brainard

Salary per year: $118,673.

Took office: 1994.

Carmel population: 83,656.

Size rank: fifth.

City employees: 525.

Income per person: $52,068.



4. Westfield Mayor Andy Cook

Salary per year: $108,200.

Took office: 2008.

Westfield population.33,382.

Size rank: 26th.

City employees: 215.

Income per person: $35,921.

5. South Bend Mayor Peter Buttigieg

Salary per year: $104,847.

Took office: 2012.

South Bend population: 100,800.

Size rank: fourth.

Income per person: $19,064

City employees: 1,100.

6. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott

Salary per year: $104,436.

Took office: 2008.

Hammond population: 80,830.

Size rank: eighth.

Income per person: $18,148.

City employees: 600.

7. Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear

Salary per year: $104,340.

Took office: 2004.

Noblesville population: 55,075.

Size rank: 15th.

Income per person: $30.757.

City employees: 360.

8. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard

Salary per year: $102,620.

Took office: 2008.

Indianapolis population: 834,852.

Size rank: first.

Income per person: $24,182.

Employees: 6,800.

9. Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke

Salary per year: $98,562.

Took office: 2012.

Evansville population: 120,235.

Size rank: third.

Income per person: $21,143.

City employees: 1,100.

10. Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan

Salary per year: $95,464.

Took office: 2004.

Bloomington population: 80,963.

Size rank: sixth.

Income per person: $18,909.

City employees: 650.

Others: Fishers Mayor-elect Scott Fadness, $125,000 (proposed) Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown, $85,119; Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith, $84,636; Whiting Mayor Joseph Stahura, $76,887; Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler, $70,294; Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, $79,752; Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers, $74,494.

Source: Star research.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.