Citizens Address Detroit City Council About Pay Raises In Second Scheduled Meeting

DETROIT (WWJ) -- In a a second in a series of open meetings, the public was invited to address the chances of pay raises for Detroit City Council on Monday night.

The room at City Hall was full to capacity -- and full of opinions -- especially from Detroit residents who attended the meeting.

The Elected Officials Compensation Commission heard comments from numerous citizens, out-spoken about the possibility of pay raises for council members. Council President Brenda Jones and City Clerk Janice Winfrey have previously asked for pay raises. Mayor Mike Duggan is not asking for a raise.

Jones makes almost $77,000 a year, while Winfrey pulls down around $73,000. Both also have access to take-home city-owned cars.

Jones told the commission that elected officials haven't had a raise since 2001, and the last time their salaries were adjusted was in 2010 when they took a 10 percent pay cut.

The commission will hold two more meetings to consider any raises. In the first of the four scheduled meetings, only two residents appeared to voice their opinions.

One of citizens was 40-year city resident Betty Roberts who is opposed to the idea.

"I feel like it's an appalling insensitivity to consider raising our elected officials' salaries at this particular time," Roberts said. "I'm not saying that they don't deserve more money — they may. But this is not the time to give it to them."

Detroit exited municipal bankruptcy several months ago, and some city officials believe it's time for them their own financial reward. The city council last got a raise in 1999.