Jobs Cut While Others' Salaries Increase

We've gotten use to seeing pay cuts these days, but what about big raises?  We found out that while the city of East Ridge is eliminating some positions, others there are actually making more money.  Starting July 1st, the mayor and all four city council members began getting a much bigger paycheck.  But, they didn't choose the increase, it was voted on by citizens.  All during a time when others in City Hall are losing their entire pay checks.

In the city of East Ridge while revenues and the economy keep going down one thing is going up, some salaries at City Hall.

City Manager William Whitson says, "I think the voters wisely recognized that being a council member and contributing back to the community takes a lot of time."

That's why Whitson says back in November, voters approved a raise for the mayor and the 4 city council members.

The Mayor's pay goes up from $3,000 to $12,000, while the city council members go from making $2,400 to $7,200, three times as much.

When we asked why, Whitson says it's necessary to keep people there to run the city.  "It's a big responsibility, they have a lot of meetings, a lot of reading, a lot of studying, a lot of travel and I think this helps balance things a little better."

Whitson says they did identify 13 positions in within the city that needed to be cut, have already laid off 5 people, and there could be a few more, but overall they are saving the city money.  "Even though there are some increases in some areas there are some reductions in other areas, so the net affect of all this is a reduction to the city's budget of over a $122,000."

He says East Ridge has cut their garage services, but it's also reorganized the people and operations in City Hall to make things run more efficiently.

But still, in a time when nearly every entity is suffering and cutting back, including East Ridge, it's surprising that voters want more money to go toward salaries.  "I could see that from an outside perspective but looking at it from the inside as a manager what you're seeing in the realignment of the organization."

Whitson says right now they do believe this year's budget will be balanced.  He adds they expect 1.3 cent reduction in taxes next year.