LastCubanStanding
05-20-2005, 09:36 AM
An ordinance to boost newly re-elected Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy's salary by nearly $30,000 was introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting, but the mayor has vowed to turn down the pay hike.
"I'm not taking any increase," Healy said yesterday when asked about the measure that would also raise the salaries of 10 of the city's department heads.
The ordinance proposes boosting the mayor's annual salary from $98,363 to $127,500, a jump of about 30 percent.
The amount of the increase alone approaches the median Jersey City household income of $37,862, as reported in the 2000 Census.
Healy, who 10 days ago was voted into another term in office, said that while he was aware pay hikes were being discussed, he didn't think any action had been taken on them.
"I thought that ordinance was going to be pulled," the mayor said. "Obviously, there are some people who have an interest in the matter, but I intend to sit down with some of the other people and negotiate it down."
According to the ordinance, the city corporation counsel and the directors of the Fire and Police departments would see their salaries increase from the current $95,568 annually to $120,000.
Five other department heads - the directors of finance, public works, health and human services, housing, economic development and commerce and recreation would see their annual salaries rise from $89,562 to $110,000.
The ordinance also calls for the city clerk's annual salary of $92,582 to increase to $120,000, while the tax assessor's pay would go from $89,562 a year to $110,000.
In the past, officials have said Jersey City had difficulty competing with the private sector to attract competent people to fill management positions because municipal salaries were not competitive.
This week's ordinance does not mark the first time large salary hikes for the city's leaders have been proposed.
Four years ago, Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham, after less than two months in office, issued an executive order that would have increased his pay by $12,600 - a jump of 14 percent. But facing mounting political pressure, Cunningham later backed away from measure.
That attempt at a raise came just on the heels of another increase to the mayoral salary put into effect by Cunningham's predecessor, Bret Schundler, who earned a mere $60,000.
During Schundler's last term in office, the City Council approved a $30,000 pay increase for the next mayor. It also approved pay hikes for its own successors.
"I'm not taking any increase," Healy said yesterday when asked about the measure that would also raise the salaries of 10 of the city's department heads.
The ordinance proposes boosting the mayor's annual salary from $98,363 to $127,500, a jump of about 30 percent.
The amount of the increase alone approaches the median Jersey City household income of $37,862, as reported in the 2000 Census.
Healy, who 10 days ago was voted into another term in office, said that while he was aware pay hikes were being discussed, he didn't think any action had been taken on them.
"I thought that ordinance was going to be pulled," the mayor said. "Obviously, there are some people who have an interest in the matter, but I intend to sit down with some of the other people and negotiate it down."
According to the ordinance, the city corporation counsel and the directors of the Fire and Police departments would see their salaries increase from the current $95,568 annually to $120,000.
Five other department heads - the directors of finance, public works, health and human services, housing, economic development and commerce and recreation would see their annual salaries rise from $89,562 to $110,000.
The ordinance also calls for the city clerk's annual salary of $92,582 to increase to $120,000, while the tax assessor's pay would go from $89,562 a year to $110,000.
In the past, officials have said Jersey City had difficulty competing with the private sector to attract competent people to fill management positions because municipal salaries were not competitive.
This week's ordinance does not mark the first time large salary hikes for the city's leaders have been proposed.
Four years ago, Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham, after less than two months in office, issued an executive order that would have increased his pay by $12,600 - a jump of 14 percent. But facing mounting political pressure, Cunningham later backed away from measure.
That attempt at a raise came just on the heels of another increase to the mayoral salary put into effect by Cunningham's predecessor, Bret Schundler, who earned a mere $60,000.
During Schundler's last term in office, the City Council approved a $30,000 pay increase for the next mayor. It also approved pay hikes for its own successors.