Pay raise review plan moves forward

INDIANAPOLIS, (WISH) - "Simple in concept, but powerful in its implications."

That's how a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council describes a proposal he presented tonight.

Council Vice President Brian Mahern, a Democrat, acknowledges it was inspired by large raises quietly given to members of the mayor's staff, earlier this year.

But, he said it is not targeted at the mayor.

Mahern says he wants the council to be alerted to any raise of ten percent or more for an employee of city or county government.

“If raises of that magnitude are warranted,” Mahern told a council committee, “they should not be hidden.

They should be trumpeted.”

Republican critics say the proposal is micro managing and not necessary.

Councillor Jack Sandlin, for example, called it “micro managing” and “something that’s not within the role of the legislative branch.”

Mahern rejected that assertion.

He said the proposal would not restrict the mayor or the head of any city and county department.

“They will be able to increase pay in the amounts that they believe are appropriate.

"It’s just that when those amounts” are ten percent or greater, “the public and the council would be made aware of that.”

Democrats won that committee vote.

They’ve sent the proposal on to the full council for consideration next.