Mayor receives 3 percent raise

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mayor Rick Baker will get a small raise this year.

The City Council approved a 3 percent annual salary increase for the mayor, whose pay has been $100,000 since 1993.

Baker still will be paid less than the mayors of Tampa and Orlando, who earn $135,012 and $138,746, respectively.

However, a proposal to further increase the salaries of City Council members fizzled before it was even discussed.

Given the sluggish economy, some council members were reluctant to approve the mayor's pay increase.

Richard Kriseman said it was "fiscally irresponsible" to approve a pay raise before the 2004 budget was finalized. He voted against the mayor's raise.

"I will not support anything," added council member James Bennett, who also voted against it.

Council members and city management staffers also receive a 3 percent annual raise.

The discussion of pay stemmed from a recent survey comparing the salaries of St. Petersburg elected officials to others throughout the state.

The study, conducted by Internal Services director Andy Houston, found Baker was paid about $30,000 less than most of his peers in similar-sized cities.

He recommended the council boost the mayor's salary to $130,000, a proposal Baker rejected in light of current budget constraints.

Houston also found that St. Petersburg council members made less than those in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. He said a raise from $24,758 to $28,000 for council members would be justified.

However, the council didn't vote on the proposal after several members said they could not support it.

Council member John Bryan, who gave up a full-time job after election, lamented the political ramifications of setting salaries.

"I wish there was some other body who would do this for us," he said.

Council members last attempted to increase their pay in July 2001, a move that prompted more than 100 phone calls and letters to City Hall. Under the proposal made by then-chairwoman Rene Flowers, the monthly car allowance would have been raised from $150 a month to $400, which would have resulted in a 19 percent raise.

The council eventually voted to reject any increase.

On Thursday, council members also agreed to make the mayor eligible for a retirement plan. Starting this year, the city will contribute 11 percent of Baker's salary toward a retirement plan, which he will collect when he leaves office.

They did not decide whether they could participate in a similar retirement plan. The issue will be discussed during a public hearing at the council's April 3 meeting.

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