Detroit City Council, clerk to get 2.5% pay increase

DETROIT – Detroit's Elected Officials Compensation Commission has approved a cost-of-living pay increase of 2.5 percent for City Council members and the city clerk, effective the next fiscal year.

Retirees and current employees bristled at City Council President Brenda Jones and Clerk Janice Winfrey for asking for a raise with the city only about four months out of bankruptcy.

When the bottom fell out of Detroit's finances, elected officials took a 10 percent reduction in pay. Before Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr left Detroit he restored 5 percent of their pay, but many on the council argued that 5 percent went to a mandatory pension payment, so they haven't been made whole.

The commission isn't making council members whole, either, and Jones tried to dodge Local 4 cameras after the meeting, saying, "You have a good evening. I have a lot of work to do," and then taking off in her city-provided car.

Winfrey argues that her salary should not be tied to the council. She oversees a $13 million budget and a large department. In data from the city's human resources department, it found that Winfrey is paid 22 percent below average but that council members are within 10 percent of the average pay.

"I understand we're just coming out of bankruptcy; trust me, I get that. But if they could just restore the 10 percent, that would be helpful," Winfrey said.

Samuel "Buzz" Thomas, who chaired the commission, told Local 4 it's a simple matter of looking at the budget and doing the math.

"The city budget is the city budget," he said. "The city has adopted a four-year budget and we think it's important we follow that four-year budget and that, at this time, the city isn't in a position and elected officials are not in position to get a raise."

The commission unanimously voted to treat the council and clerk like the rest of the city's employees, who are due to get an increase in mid-2016 of 2.5 percent.

Currently, council members make $76,840. After the 2.5 percent increase it will be $78,781, plus their city-provided car.