Question 1: How much are the salary increases worth?

 

These raises were approved by the Board of Estimates.

 

The mayor is going to get a $5,000 raise to move his salary from $209,000 to $214,000.

 

The city council president and the comptroller both get $2,500 raises and will now earn $142,000. 

 

The other 14 council members are also getting $2,000 raises.

 

And the two heads of the liquor board got a $1,000 raise to their part time salaries.

 

 

Question 2: What’s the reasoning behind the increase?

 

In 2007, City Council created a commission to analyze elected officials’ salaries in Baltimore. The commission recommended that elected officials get a 2.5% raise each year, a practice that was soon signed into law and repeats each year indefinitely.

 

The pay raises are pretty much automatic. The Board of Estimates can say no to the pay raises. But it’s their own salaries they’re deciding: the mayor, the comptroller, and city council president are all on the Board. They’re approving raises for themselves as well as the entire city council.

 

The only condition is that at least one category of Baltimore city workers need to get a raise too. This year professional and supervisor employees got a 3% raise. 

 

 

Question 3: What are elected officials in other nearby cities making?

 

Philadelphia Mayor just got a raise to bring her salary near $280,000.

 

Boston Mayor makes $207,000.

 

Pittsburgh Mayor $127,000.

 

City Council members in Baltimore are paid lower (80-90k) compared to those other cities. In Philly they make $160,000. In Boston they make $115,000.