PORTLAND, Maine — Members of the Portland City Council have unanimously approved a 1.5 percent pay increase for themselves together with Mayor Michael Brennan and City Manager Mike Rees despite objections from some city residents.
The Portland Press Herald reported Tuesday that residents urged the officials meeting Monday night to reject a pay hike in solidarity with many in the city who are struggling in a down economy.
City councilors will see an increase of just under $100 in their current annual compensation of $5,600. The mayor’s annual salary of $65,400 will increase by $981. The city manager will see his $143,000 annual pay increase by $2,145. The increases are retroactive to July 1.
Resident Kevin Casey said it is disconcerting that city officials get to vote on their own pay increase.
No public servant should be able to raise their own pay.
Pitiful just pitiful. These people should be ashamed of themselves for picking the very pockets that they are there to protect especially during these harsh economic times. There will be coal in their stockings on Christmas if even Santa shows up.
Public officials should receive minimum wage , Obamacare , social security retirement and be happy about it !
Yes, that is a great way to go have all public officials be terrible at their jobs.
Time for the people to take their local goverments back. How is the city manager worth more then the govenor of the state?
I’d argue that Portland’s city manager is doing a much better job than LePage. Look at the relative economies, Portland is booming, the rest of the state? Not so much.
This seems like something that should have to be voted on by the people of Portland..
That being said, it’s really not that much money at all, and some people need to chill out about it. Most people reading this will probably get a salary increase larger than 1.5% this year, anyway.
True democrats.Following in the footsteps of state Dems . Portland can not afford to help the homeless yet they give themselves a raise.How is that mousy admin in Portland so far.This must be redistribution!
You raise a good point. Even though the amount of money is not that much, it could go a long way to help the homeless in this city – especially this time of year, when they need it most.
You don’t like it move to another town