Baltimore's City Council introduced legislation last night that, if approved, would give the city's elected officials a 6 percent raise, a move that drew mixed reviews yesterday from union leaders.
Councilman Robert W. Curran said the council deserved a raise because it has not received one in five years and will not be eligible again for a pay rise until after the 2007 election. Only a council that is ending its term can raise the salaries of an incoming council and other elected officials.
The new council, which was elected last week, will be sworn in next month. But the raises must be approved by Dec. 6, the outgoing council's last meeting.
"This wouldn't even cover our health care increases," Curran said.
Several union members took issue with the raise because of the generous increase in salaries approved five years ago.
In December 1999, the departing council approved raises ranging from 23 percent to 32 percent, which benefited the current council, as well as City Council President Sheila Dixon, Comptroller Joan Pratt and Mayor Martin O'Malley.
In 1999, council members' annual salaries rose 30 percent, from $37,000 to $48,000. The council vice president's pay increased 28 percent, from $39,000 to $50,000. The pay for the council president and comptroller rose 23 percent, from $65,000 to $80,000. The mayor's pay jumped 32 percent, from $95,000 to $125,000.
The 6 percent pay raise introduced yesterday would give council members salaries of $50,880. The vice president, whom the new council will elect next month, would be paid $53,000. Dixon and Pratt each would get $84,800, and the mayor would be paid $132,500.
If approved, the pay raises for elected officials would come less than six months after the mayor and council approved $30 million in increased telephone, energy and real estate taxes as part of the city's $2.1 billion budget.
Councilman Melvin Stukes, who was not re-elected, said yesterday that the council should get a raise closer to 10 percent. He said that the council was going to get criticized for whatever raise they give themselves, so they might as well push for a bigger raise.
"If you're going to get shot, get shot for something" substantial, Stukes said.
Glenard S. Middleton Sr., president of AFSCME Local 44, said the council should not get raises that are higher than what the lowest paid city workers receive.
