 |
| click |
An proposal to reduce the next Mayor's salary from $60,000 to $30,000/yr and leave the next councils' at its current level ($7,200) will be introduced at the next council meeting. (All will remain eligible for the same fringe benefits as city employees.)
In a statement to the Times, Council President Mixon said, "state law requires salaries and benefits for incoming elected officials must be established at a minimum of 6 months prior to an election . . . now is a good time . . . during the budget planning cycle. Also, since candidates will start planning their campaigns within the next 2 months . . . this allows those who intend to run for office in 2012 to know well in advance what their salaries will be."
CITY HAS NEW ADMINISTRATOR
A city administrator was hired by the council in 2009, reducing the overall responsibilities of the mayor.
Mixon explained: "With the new addition of a City Administrator, the recommended salary for the mayor is reduced to $30,000 per year."
"This figure was determined from a comparison of data collected from other cities in Alabama with a population of fewer than 50,000 and that have a . . . city administrator."
Mixon added that according to state law, elected officials are not required to work full time.
The next government will be sworn-in in November, 2012. Neither Mixon nor Mayor Kant have announced yet if they will seek re-election. The owner of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Gary Wolfe, has expressed interest in running for the next council, but he would have to establish residency within the city limits first.
(Publisher's note: Mayor Kant did not respond to an e-mailed request for his comments. Check back for updates.)
Comments
As far as a part-time mayor...could you imagine someone in his office complaining about an issue only to hear him say, "Oh my goodness, look at the time. I need to get to my other part-time job. Thanks for stopping by. Remember, my door is always open, from 8-12, Monday-Friday".