Foote only Council member to speak out against pay raise.
The Jackson City Council will vote on a pay raise for itself and the Mayor at its next meeting.
Outgoing Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsey broached the rather sensitive subject Tuesday during the Council's regular meeting.
The Councilwoman placed a proposal to increase City Council salaries by 40% on the agenda. Although Ms. Lindsey used the word "courage" to describe her actions, she said proposing a pay raise was much easier since she was not up for re-election. She called Council salaries "ridiculously low."
Section 2-36 of the Jackson Code of Ordinances states:
From and after the next general election of municipal officers to be held in the year 2001 and the next elected council takes office in July 2001, each members' shall increase as follows: The salary of each member of the council shall be $25,000.00 per annum, except that the council member serving as president of the council shall receive an additional $2,000.00 per annum, prorated to reflect the length of the member's term of office.
The proposed raise would be $10,000 for Council members and $800 for the City Council President. She said higher salary would encourage better candidates to run for office. The Council has not raised its pay in 24 years. The Mayor earns a salary of $120,000 per year. A 40% raise will increase it to $168,000 per year.
Indicted Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks thanked the City Council President for "your courage" as he enthusiastically supported a pay raise. However, Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote quickly opposed the pay increase. He said over 50 candidates qualified for city elections this year, thus there was no shortage of candidates in Jackson. Mr. Foote said the city had to many issues for the Council to give itself a pay raise.
Mr. Foote made his money in the private sector but Mr. Hartley earned his living working for the government and it showed as Mr. Hartley heartily spoke in favor of a pay raise. "We can't afford to have folks in compromising positions. We need the best and brightest to get this city out of the dark," said the Ward 5 Councilman. He pointed out if the pay raise is not approved now, the Council will have to wait another four years to raise its pay. Mr. Hartley concluding by stating he has put more money into the job than he was paid.
The next City Council meeting will be on April 22.
Kingfish note: This pay raise is going through. Lindsey, Hartley, Banks, and undoubtedly Grizzell will vote for the pay increase. Ward 2 Councilwoman Clay was silent during the discussion. Kenneth Stokes was absent from the meeting. Thus if the Kingfish is betting, the Council will approve the pay raise on a 5-2 or 6-1 vote.
35 comments:
A city run as poorly as Jackson should not be giving those in charge any sort of raise.
The palm grease isn't enough? City SUV? Shopping sprees?
So, if I'm reading this right, right, HAD the council members been paid more in the recent past, things they percieve to control within the City of Jackson would have turned out more better for the citizens of Jackson. And they waited all this time to tell us that, right?
Bet this won’t be the only group to vote themselves a raise after the election. Which city do you think in Rankin county will do the same thing after election?
I think that $168,000 for a chief executive of a city the size of Jackson is perfectly fine. I just think the citizens of Jackson can't be trusted to vote someone in that is deserving of that salary.
The are all cowards. And I'll tell Virgi that to her face next time I see her out and about. Courage Ladies and Gentlemen, would have be to bring up the issue before the f'ing primary. And to allude that Banks and Angelique may have resisted the temptation to accept bribes for a measly extra $10,000 a year is pure folly, er, bullshit.
Antard won't be getting paid because he won't be the Mayor.
I don't doubt the raise is warranted if you were a functioning well run city. However, this city is constantly in financial trouble and is a clown show of an administration. I would propose cutting the amount of the proposed raise from some other wasteful spending if they want it pushed through, but that makes too much sense.
I wish my job allowed me to decide how much money I get paid.
Nice work if you can get it.
This is exactly something that LaToya Cantrell and Tiffany Henyard would do. As the ship is sinking, turn the water fountains on.
No you will not get "better" candidates to run for these offices by that increase in pay. In fact they will probably be worse. If they need the money or see the council or mayor as a regular job they are in over their heads. The best candidates will be those who do not need the money and understand that this job is a civic sacrifice, especially in Jackson, a poor city.
From what I have seen lately the mayor and some of the city council are getting a pay raise already. Could we deduct what they get from bribes and such things from their salary? What about performance? Could we tie the pay raise to them actually doing something for the city?
I propose a carrot and stick approach. Yes, you have the potential to make $25,000, but you must do this, this, and this successfully to qualify. As for Mayor, there is no F'ing way the current Mayor has earned any portion of his salary. The City should bill him for office space.
For this to help "attract competent candidates" it should have been done long before the qualifying deadline, not after the primary. Punt this for 3 years and then do it for the next council. This is a crooked way to do it.
So courageous Virgi, so f'ing courageous. No, courageous would be to listen to your constituents instead of carrying the mayors water.
@1:24 Any union job lets you decide how much you get paid and how little work you do. I believe the UAW is now up to $110,000 per year with a 29 hour work week and 17 weeks of paid vacation.
Courage Ladies and Gentlemen, would have be to bring up the issue before the f'ing primary.
What do you expect from deceitful people like Lindsey, Pudgy and Banks? The truth?
Just a reminder that educated single people can’t live on less that $150k a year. We simply have lifestyles that demand a higher salary. We are far different than Joe Sixpack and Sally Soccermom, who might actually enjoy hamburger helper.
If they want a decent raise they would have to pick it up on a yacht in Ft. Lauderdale. Right?
Virgi happily leaving an upper decker.
"She said higher salary would encourage better candidates to run for office." It doesn't matter how much you pay them. The city is still going to elect the biggest idiot or biggest mouthpeace or the biggest blocker to progress.
So, the taxpayers of Jackson couldn't afford a tax increase for water, but could afford a tax increase for salary raises. Solid City of Jackson thinking.
What is it they do to earn their salary now?
Jackson is in a shambles; crime, economy and corruption. Some people really expect others to support them for doing nothing.
old Drunk a** Banks will say anything at this point don't be surprised in the next few months he tap out & take a plea his mind not on the city council at all
Why does Chowke need a raise? All he has to do is fly to Ft. Lauderdale on a private jet and make a draw.
Sounds more like you don't have enough sense to handle your money.
Virgi thinks screwing taxpayers takes "courage?" She always has been hopelessly delusional about herself.
Let them have the money. Trump is turning the American dollar into Monopoly money. Republicans have always fought the hard work of Progressives to fix the broken social priorities of American cities. Due to racism, Republicans have tossed most cities like Jackson to the rubbish bin. The best we can hope for at this point is for a total collapse, and for China to intervene and provide us with aid, infrastructure, security, and stability. Thankfully, Mayor Lumumba aided China during the pandemic. He will be remembered favourably by the PLA.
10:08: China's GDP is only about 65% of the U.S. GDP, with more than four times the population.
Plus, most of us have grown accustomed to that top-10 list known at the Bill of Rights.
We have a long, loooong way down before we get anywhere close to a "total collapse." I realize that's not the story pushed by the minority party, whichever party that happens to be, because impending doom gets people to the polls.
And after all, the next election is the only thing that matters to the election industry.
2:29, I’ve heard Hamburger Helper does just fine by itself
Let them eat cake, peasants.
Kathy Smith will, undoubtedly, be pushing through a raise for herself as the new Flowood mayor.
That's some first class parodying you have posted. Have you ever thought about going professionally?
"Just a reminder that educated single people can’t live on less that $150k a year. We simply have lifestyles that demand a higher salary." The problem is that you've put things in the wrong order. You don't just demand a higher income with that justification. You invest time, effort, and talent into career growth that yields the rewards that you desire for a better lifestyle. It's called paying your dues.
April 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I dont think it's parody.
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