Pay raise for officials debated
By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The Princeton Council on Monday passed a $59.2 million budget that sets the stage for a future debate about whether Mayor Liz Lempert and the council should get a pay raise.
The spending plan was down by 2.3 percent compared to last year, although a bone of contention was increasing the salary line item for the mayor and council from $60,000 to $79,750.
Officials need to vote again later this year on whether to increase their pay — an issue that divided the governing body in 2013 and again this year when it resurfaced.
The vote to approve the budget with the salary increase item was 4-2.
If approved, Mayor Lempert’s salary would go from $15,000 to $17,500, each council member would go from $7,500 to $10,000, and the Council President, in this case, Bernard P. Miller, would get $12,250.
Supporters of the pay hike have sought to craft the argument about expanding access to government service to people who might not be able to afford the costs related with the job, be it hiring a baby sitter or other expenses that crop up.
Councilman Lance Liverman said during the meeting his salary and Council President Bernard P. Miller’s were the only ones on the governing body to be cut during consolidation. Both men had earned around $10,000 as members of the Township Committee but today earn $7,500.
He noted that for some residents, serving in government is not within their financial means. He said he spoke to people, including a parking attendant, who expressed interest in running for council if the salary were higher.
He said that by limiting the amount of the "stipend" council members get paid, "we’re creating a system where only a certain financial class of people can join us."
Councilwoman Heather H. Howard, part of the same faction on council along with Mr. Liverman, said she favored restoring the pay cut that he and Mr. Miller took. She also picked up on Mr. Liverman’s broader argument of what officials want their government to look like.
"If we don’t have a council that reflects the breadth of our society, it will impact all of our decision-making," she said.
For her part, Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said she could support a raise commensurate with the one given to the rest of municipal staff.
"I don’t think it’s political, I don’t think it’s personal. For me, it really is a principled stand," said Councilwoman Jo S. Butler, who voted against the budget with Councilman Patrick Simon. "We promised to deliver on the promises of consolidation."