Weekly Editorial Recap

City Council pay

Tuesday

A new proposal circulating at City Hall would boost City Council salaries by 52 percent and more than double the mayor's salary, while officially turning the mayoralty into a full-time job. ...

The increases would be staggered as council elections take place. By 2009, City Council pay (now $45,400) would climb to $69,247. In 2010 it would reach $72,007.

The mayor's salary, meanwhile, would be pegged at 180 percent of a City Council salary -- $124,644 in 2009, more than double the mayor's current base pay of $59,657.

Under the proposal, the mayor would be barred from seeking outside employment, though council members could still keep their day jobs. ...

Council members deserve some credit for broaching the subject in the light of day. And the provision that would bar any current office holder from enjoying a raise till a new election had intervened is wise and necessary.

There's no doubt the city -- and the responsibilities of the council -- has grown. If council members can make a convincing case that salaries should be much higher, they might find voters more receptive than they expect.

The best option would be to put the proposed pay hikes to the voters -- though without any "automatic escalator" link to county salaries, which voters should reject out of hand.

Failing that, if the council members are convinced they deserve bigger paychecks, fine. Let them make the case to their constituents, vote accordingly, and take the heat.