STRUTHERS Fewer than 5 votes could threaten raises

State law bars in-term pay raises, and new terms start Jan. 1.
STRUTHERS -- One vote could make a difference when a pay raise ordinance for council members and the city treasurer comes up for a final vote at council's regular meeting Wednesday.
The ordinance was given second reading in a special meeting Friday evening because it got only five votes of the six needed to suspend the rules and bring it up for final passage. The measure must be enacted by Dec. 31.
There are seven voting council members, and the council president votes only to break a tie.
One vote counts: If the ordinance gets five votes at Wednesday's meeting, it will pass as an emergency measure, meaning that it would take effect immediately, said Danny Thomas Jr., council president.
If it only gets four votes, it would take effect in 30 days, Thomas said. If it takes effect in 30 days, it might violate the state's legal prohibition against in-term pay raises, Thomas said.
The ordinance would give council members a $500 increase in 2003 and the city treasurer increases of $800 in 2003 and $1,000 in 2004. Current annual pay is $8,000 for council members and $8,200 for the treasurer, Thomas Sweder.
Thomas said that, at his request, council deleted the $500 pay raise for the council president from the ordinance. Thomas noted that all council members, including the council president, got $2,000 pay raises on Jan. 1, 2000, and said he isn't comfortable taking another pay raise in uncertain economic times.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday.