SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — City council members in Utah’s largest city have voted to raise their own salaries by nearly $10,000 in a move they argue will allow more people from all economic backgrounds to consider serving in the future.

Members of the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to raise pay to nearly $36,000, up from about $26,000. It is the first substantial raise other than cost-of-living increases in 37 years.

Council members Chris Wharton and Erin Mendenhall say the increased salary will allow more people to serve on the council who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make it work financially.

Community activist George Chapman was one of two people to speak against the raise at the council meeting. Chapman says the raise is unethical and said police officers should instead get pay increases.