San Jose City Council Declines 5 Percent Pay Raise
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a proposed five percent pay raise for councilmembers.
A five-member Salary Commission proposed increasing councilmembers' salaries from $81,000 to $85,000. The commission has also suggested increasing Mayor Chuck Reed's $114,000 annual salary to $120,000.
"I do not think it's appropriate at this time for the City Council to get any raise of any amount," Councilmember Ash Kalra explained why he voted 'no.'
Councilmember Pete Constant was also against the proposal. "I think it's important that the elected leaders of a city lead by example,"
The Salary Commission sets the salaries of San Jose's elected leaders every two years, though there is no requirement that any leader take the full amount of his or her set salary.
Reed, for example, has declined every recommended raise after his $105,000 salary took effect when he became mayor in 2007.
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