Mount Vernon City Council members ask for $5K raise

With some cities and villages looking to pinch pennies in this struggling economy, it may come as a surprise that one city council is actually looking to give itself a raise. In the 2012 Mount Vernon

News 12 Staff

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Nov 30, 2011, 11:20 PM

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Updated 4,622 days ago

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With some cities and villages looking to pinch pennies in this struggling economy, it may come as a surprise that one city council is actually looking to give itself a raise.

In the 2012 Mount Vernon proposed budget, the council president and four council members are asking for a $5,000 per person salary increase for their part-time positions.

The increase would bring the council president's salary from $36,500 to $41,500 and the other members would go from $33,000 to $38,000. The increases would total $25,000.

The council salaries make up a small part of the $93.3 million spending plan, which comes with an almost 4 percent tax rate increase.

City officials say there is also a good chance that some jobs or services will be cut as part of the budget.

City Council officials say the increase is fair because they put in a lot of hours and the last time they received a raise was four years ago when the council gave itself a $3,000 increase.

A public hearing on the budget is set for Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

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