Incoming Denver District Attorney John Walsh hasn’t even been sworn in and he’s already set to get a pay raise — although he’ll have to wait a year before it shows up in his bank account.

In its last meeting of the year on Monday, the Denver City Council voted, 9-2, to approve an amended version of his plea for an annual pay increase for his office.

Walsh first brought the request to the Dec. 4 Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee, where he asked for a 4% annual pay raise beginning next year, which would have placed his starting salary at $254,609 instead of $244,816. He said he had to ask for a pay raise now — otherwise, that window is closed for the next four years.

Instead, District 3 Councilmember Jamie Torres introduced an amendment that would not increase the DA’s salary in 2025 but would apply the the 4% pay increase to 2026, 2027 and 2028.

In short, because of a recent amendment to state law, Torres said, there would actually be savings at the end of four years.

Specifically, Torres referenced Senate Bill 24-013, which goes into effect July 1, 2026 and which mandates the salary of attorneys working in a district attorney’s office to match the compensation of a full-time county court judge, with the state covering 50% of that minimum.

The council approved the amendment unanimously.

Walsh, who is transitioning into the position currently held by Beth McCann, told members of the safety committee that his request felt awkward but that it is required by state law.

“Under Colorado Law, any salary adjustments to the district attorney’s compensation have to be made now for the whole four-year term, and that’s why I’m before you,” Walsh told committee members. “It would not have been my choice to come before you for the first time asking for a salary increase, but that’s what the law requires, and that’s why I’m here today.”

District 10 Councilmember Chris Hinds, who supported the pay increase, said it’s important for the city to remain competitive with regard to salary if it wants to attract and retain top talent.

“We are not competing with just other governments,” District 5 Councilmember Amanda Sawyer said. “We’re also competing with the private sector, which we’re not meeting when it comes to the salaries of our employees and when it comes to the salaries of our executive directors of all of our different city agencies.”

Council members also expressed grief at going through the salary process every four years and suggested changes to the ordinance be looked at closer in the future.

Walsh is slated to be sworn into office on Jan. 14, 2025.

He will oversee a staff of 330, including 126 attorneys and 204 support personnel who handle more than 6,000 felony and nearly 8,000 misdemeanor, cases each year.