Worcester City Council Approves Pay Raises for Mayor, Councilors, and School Committee Members

Worcester's mayor, City Council, and School Committee members are set to receive significant pay raises, as the City Council voted without debate to approve an amendment to the city's salary ordinance. Effective January 10, the day after Mayor Timothy P. Murray leaves office to assume his duties as lieutenant governor, the mayor's annual salary will increase from $18,000 to $34,000. City councilors will see their annual salary jump from $15,750 to $29,000, while School Committee members will see their salary increase from $7,875 to $14,500, due to the city charter's tie of their salary to that of city councilors. The raises were funded in part by transferring $74,500 from the city manager's contingency account.

Key Takeaways:

The mayor's annual salary will increase from $18,000 to $34,000, effective January 10.
City councilors will receive a pay raise from $15,750 to $29,000 annually.
School Committee members' salary will increase from $7,875 to $14,500 annually.
The pay raises were funded in part by transferring $74,500 from the city manager's contingency account.
The vote to approve the pay raises passed with an 8-3 majority, with Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes, District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri, and Councilor-at-Large Gary Rosen voting in opposition.
The vote to transfer funds for the pay raises passed with an 8-2 majority, with Mr. Palmieri and Mr. Rosen voting against the transfer.
Mrs. Lukes was not present in the council chamber for the vote on transferring funds.
The raises take effect the day after Mayor Murray leaves office to assume his new duties.

Statistics:

The mayor's salary increase: +86.7% ($34,000 - $18,000)
City councilors' salary increase: +85.1% ($29,000 - $15,750)
School Committee members' salary increase: +85.2% ($14,500 - $7,875)
Funds transferred from city manager's contingency account: $74,500
Vote to approve pay raises: 8-3
Vote to transfer funds: 8-2