Common Council has voted to give itself a hefty raise.
After much debate last night, it voted to accept the recommendations in a consultant’s report to boost councillors’ salaries and expenses by 56% to a little over $29,500. The Mayor’s salary and expenses would rise 31% to a total of over $74,000. However, the Telegraph-Journal reports Mayor Don Darling indicated he would forego the increase because of the city’s financial situation. Overall the hikes will add more than $129,000 to the city’s operating budget next year.