Council proposal would force top officials to announce big raises

City-County Councilor Brian Mahern has a proposal that would give the Council and the public a heads-up before any city or county employee gets a pay raise.

It is a reaction to big pay hikes that several top staffers in the mayor's office recently received.

"A travesty," said Mahern, D-District 16, about the pay raises.

More than a handful of Mayor Greg Ballard's staff saw 18 percent pay hikes on average. In August, the mayor defended the decision saying he needs to keep and attract top talent.

Mahern's proposal, if passed, would require all departments to give notice if any city or county employee would receive a pay raise of 10 percent or higher. If the employee has been promoted or has taken on a new position, that information would not be necessary.

"It's simply a matter of transparency and accountability," said Mahern.

Mahern believes it could force top officials to think twice before giving large raises when the city is looking at a more than $60 million shortfall next year.

"I don't think that micromanaging is appropriate, and I think that's what this is," said Jack Sandlin, R-District 24.

Sandlin is clearly not on board with the proposal, and if it stays as is, it will not be getting his vote.

"What I'm trying to avoid is some big book of regulations that are really pretty meaningless," he said.

Mahern will present his proposal to the Administration and Finance Committee Tuesday night along with an amendment that would require notice even if there are several increases that equal 10 percent or more in a year.

The mayor was not available for comment. His spokesperson Marc Lotter instead said, "As with all proposals, the Mayor's office will review it should it pass the Council."