Controversy Over Birmingham City Council Pay Increase

| August 13, 2015 

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Birmingham’s City Council is taking some heat after approving a city council pay raise. Last week the nine-member council voted 8-1 to approve a raise for council members from $15,000 to $55,000, a more than 200 percent increase. Council members say it’ll help attract top talent to city leadership. Birmingham News & Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald tells WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley why he’s skeptical.

“According to the National League of Cities, only 7 percent of medium sized cities – or those up to 200,000 in population – pay their city councils salaries above $20,000,” explains Archibald. He joins WBHM most Thursdays during Morning Edition.

 

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