Politics & Government

Norcross City Council, Mayor to Receive Pay Raises

The council passed a measure Monday that will increase their salaries and the mayor's by 50 percent. The new pay would be entitled to those who are elected on or after January 2014.

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After a lengthy discussion during the May city council meeting Monday (May 6), the Norcross City Council approved a measure to raise their pay and the mayor's by 50 percent.

The vote was 4-1, with Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Hixson voting against it.

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The pay raise comes after nearly 18 years of no increased salary. According to City Clerk Susan Wuerzner, the elected officials have not received a raise since Sept. 5, 1995.

After comparing many of the surrounding cities' salaries for their councils and mayors for the past few months, the city created the following proposal:

Find out what's happening in Norcrosswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mayor: Current salary is $6,900; approved to $10,350
Mayor Pro Tem: Current salary is $6,000; approved to $9,000
Councilmembers: Current salary is $5,400; approved to $8,100

Even though the measure was passed Monday, the earliest any of the council and mayor would see a dime of the new salary would be next year. The new pay would be entitled to those who are elected on or after January 2014 in the next election cycle.

Before the council voted on the issue, three locals voiced their opinion to the council, with two opposing the measure and one voicing approval.

"I believe it is a bad statement to our full-time employees that have not received raises, and these [new] amounts are very high," said resident Faye McFarland, who was on the council for 10 years. "I think it is very wrong [to have] these increases because so many taxpayers are unemployed [and] underemployed in very difficult times for so many."

"There are a lot of places I'd cut spending, but this isn't one of them," said Terry Bowie, another resident and former councilmen. "I have no problem with you all getting a raise. I've done that job."

Every councilman also spoke his two cents on the item. Hixson, who voted against the measure, said he was conflicted.

"I just don't think it sends the right message, giving us raises," the mayor pro tem told Norcross Patch.

On the other hand, during the meeting Hixson explained that, while he gets paid to attend council meetings, he has to do other appearances for the city, such as ribbon cuttings and for the press, before and after he clocks in to his full-time job as a banker.

"None of that is considered my job responsibilities," said Hixson. "But if we don't go to these ribbon cuttings, if we don't get involved in Gwinnett municipal after hours, if we don't go to these county meetings, [the city's] relevance would be diminished."

Councilman Charlie Riehm explained that he was the one who first proposed the increase for only Mayor Bucky Johnson, but the raise for the council was added on later. Riehm said Johnson deals with not only city issues, but regional issues, such as his roles on the Mayors Association and the Atlanta Regional Commission. The mayor averages six to eight meetings a week, according to Riehm.

He added that the annexation plays a big part in the salary increase, too. The city's population increased by 50 percent last year and the council and mayor have to answer to more residents' inquiries and concerns now.

Councilman David McLeroy, who's been on the council for 11 years, said being an elected official costs him $1,000 to $1,500 a month. He currently receives $400 a month for his council duties, and if he runs for re-election and wins in November 2014, it would be increased to $600.

"It is a labor of love," said Councilman Craig Newton. "It takes a lot of time and effort, and you do this because you want to make a better place not only for yourself, but for the citizens here in Norcross."

If the council could put an hourly wage on their work, Newton added, it would be 20 cents an hour.

See also:

  • Should the Norcross Mayor and City Council Receive a Pay Raise?

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