Should the city council give up the pay raises?

Sun-Times:

Budget director Bennett Johnson has sent a letter informing aldermen of an impending 6.2 percent increase in their annual salary -- from $104,101 to $110,556 -- and asking them to return signed affidavits by Sept. 15 if they're willing to give it up.

A second enclosed affidavit asks them to take three unpaid furlough days.

"Kiss my royal. Under no circumstances will I give up my pay raise," said Ald. Bernard Stone (50th).

"I gave him three [furlough] days. It cost me $832. The mayor didn't do it. He didn't do it last time, either. Two pay cycles ago, we got a $10,000 raise, and I didn't take it. That's enough money from me."

Noting Chicago has a $420 million deficit that could trigger more than 1,000 layoffs, Ald. Tom Allen (38th) said, "We've got systemic problems that are a lot deeper than a few grand" from a pay raise.

The 2006 ordinance that ties Council salaries to the inflation rate requires aldermen to accept or forfeit the raise by Sept. 15.

Sources said Daley is approaching the budget "in the context of a four-year plan."

Well the article mentions other issues. Layoffs might be required, departmental mergers, cutting back overtime, even consolidation of leases. Tough times ahead.