FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Sept. 8, 2008
Contact: Terry Burns, 637-3366
Ricketts cries poor, wants 23 percent pay raise
Lawrence mayor wants more money after just nine months on the job
INDIANAPOLIS - Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts took office just nine month ago and he's already asking taxpayers to give him a $15,000 pay raise, which translates into a 23 percent increase.
Ricketts' self-serving demand for a higher paycheck comes at a time when Lawrence taxpayers already are being slammed by higher gas prices, soaring property tax bills and growing job insecurity.
Mayor Ricketts is asking the Lawrence City Council to approve a pay raise scheme that will hike his yearly salary to $80,000 from $65,000.
"When Paul Ricketts ran for mayor, he knew what the job paid. If it wasn't enough money to pay for the kind of lifestyle he's used to having, then he should have looked for another line of work," said Ed Treacy, Marion County Democratic Party chairman.
Treacy urged the Lawrence City Council to reject the mayor's ill-conceived request and also to vote against a similar pay hike being considered for council members.
"With working families finding it harder and harder to make ends meet because of the slumping economy, this isn't the time for any responsible elected official to go begging for a pay raise," Treacy said. "If Mayor Ricketts can't get by on his current salary, then maybe he should consider getting a part-time job."
The Lawrence City Council meets tonight to review the city's proposed budget and is likely to discuss the mayor's pay raise request at the hearing.
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Monday, Sept. 8, 2008
Contact: Terry Burns, 637-3366
Ricketts cries poor, wants 23 percent pay raise
Lawrence mayor wants more money after just nine months on the job
INDIANAPOLIS - Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts took office just nine month ago and he's already asking taxpayers to give him a $15,000 pay raise, which translates into a 23 percent increase.
Ricketts' self-serving demand for a higher paycheck comes at a time when Lawrence taxpayers already are being slammed by higher gas prices, soaring property tax bills and growing job insecurity.
Mayor Ricketts is asking the Lawrence City Council to approve a pay raise scheme that will hike his yearly salary to $80,000 from $65,000.
"When Paul Ricketts ran for mayor, he knew what the job paid. If it wasn't enough money to pay for the kind of lifestyle he's used to having, then he should have looked for another line of work," said Ed Treacy, Marion County Democratic Party chairman.
Treacy urged the Lawrence City Council to reject the mayor's ill-conceived request and also to vote against a similar pay hike being considered for council members.
"With working families finding it harder and harder to make ends meet because of the slumping economy, this isn't the time for any responsible elected official to go begging for a pay raise," Treacy said. "If Mayor Ricketts can't get by on his current salary, then maybe he should consider getting a part-time job."
The Lawrence City Council meets tonight to review the city's proposed budget and is likely to discuss the mayor's pay raise request at the hearing.
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