LANSING - Lansing officials are slated for a raise in July and then again in mid-2002, unless city council members vote to oppose the increases.
If the council doesn’t vote before April 28, Lansing Mayor David Hollister, City Clerk Steve Dougan and Lansing City Council members will see salary increases ranging from 2 percent to 13 percent.
Lansing’s Elected Officers Compensation Commission approved the increase in March. Commission members, appointed by the mayor and overseen by the council, examined each official’s salary and then compared those amounts to office holders in cities with similar populations.
The commission voted for Hollister to continue to receive the highest wage for Lansing, excluding judiciary positions.
The mayor’s salary would increase from $95,000 to $102,000 on July 1. In July 2002, his pay would reach $107,000. The mayor would also receive a city car.
“It’s a reasonable recommendation and the raise is pretty much in line for what mayors make in similar-size cities,” said David Wiener, a spokesman for Hollister.
The council recommended a 3 percent increase to the commission in March.
“That is a fair amount,” Councilmember Harold Leeman said.
But, some residents would like to see a vote against the increases.
Lansing resident Alexander Bolt said Hollister’s raise is not warranted.
“He took a job at the lower salary,” Bolt said. “This is just like the ratchet effect of people saying ‘look how much they’re making in that city.’”
Although Bolt is opposed to the pay raise of the mayor, he said the council members’ salary raise poses a case-by-case question.
“A council member can work 20 hours a week, 40 to 60 hours a week or five hours a week,” he said. “It’s hard to call that one.”
Raises are set every two years for elected officials.
The Lansing city clerk’s wage would increase from $67,900 to $68,500 in July, with a further adjustment to $69,100 in 2002.
But, City Council Clerk Steve Dougan, who was appointed Jan. 16, recommended his salary remain the same.
“I felt that there was a salary established for the job when I took it,” Dougan said.
Council members would see their earnings advance from $19,000 to $19,600 in July and then climb to $20,200 by 2002.
The council vice president would receive an extra $750 more than council members. The council president would earn $2,000 more than council members each year.
