From The Denver Post:
After spirited debate Monday, Denver’s City Council voted 10-3 to tentatively approve a 6.6 percent raise for the next sitting council and every other elected official — an increase to be delayed for half of their four-year terms.
The city is facing a $100 million budget shortfall for the 2012 budget and has a structural budget problem that, if not addressed, could balloon into a $500 million deficit by 2030.
Many council members think the meager increase would not affect that problem and that denying a raise would be symbolic rather than practical.
“The substance of passing this has virtually zero impact on the budget,” said council president Chris Nevitt. “I was sent here to do a job to get things done. I much more prefer substance over symbolism.”
Read the whole thing here. Do click through and check out the salaries the city pays to its officials.