A Lexington council member tasked with reviewing Mayor Jim Gray’s proposed budget is questioning the recommended raises for some staff in the mayor’s office.
At a budget subcommittee meeting Tuesday, councilwoman and former council clerk Susan Lamb said the size of the proposed raises and the process used to arrive at the numbers deserve more scrutiny.
"I just have a problem with giving this large of a raise to employees," she said. "I just think that it sets a bad precedent."
At issue is whether the staff in question should have filled out job questionnaires prior to a compensation study which helped to set the proposed pay raises for government employees.
The mayor’s office argues the raises reflect the new expanded responsibilities placed on some staff members moving into new positions. Officials also say some of the office’s employees agreed to lower salaries back when the city was tightening its belt.
The final vote on the city budget is expected in June.
