Cut City Leaders' Salaries Before Increasing Taxes: DC GOP
Council to vote on tax hikes Friday
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That's $325,000 between them.
WASHINGTON -- Before increasing taxes, the D.C. Republican Party thinks city leaders should look at their own salaries.
The D.C. Council tentatively agreed Wednesday night to hikes in sales, gas and cigarette taxes to close a projected $662 million budget shortfall over the next three years. The Council is scheduled to vote on Friday.
The proposal would raise the sales tax from 5.75 percent to 6 percent. D.C.'s 20 cent-a-gallon gas tax would rise by 3.5 cents. The proposal to increase the cigarette tax by 50 cents, to $2.50 a pack, would make the tax the sixth-highest in the country, according to the American Lung Association.
D.C. GOP Executive Director Paul Craney suggested the council members and mayor consider pay cuts before taking more money from D.C. residents, Tim Craig reported on The Washington Post's D.C. Wire.
Council members make $125,000 per year, but Council Chairman Vincent Gray and Mayor Adrian Fenty make more than most governors.
Based on data from Stateline.org, Craney compared Gray and Fenty's salaries to those of the top-paid governors. Only Arnold Schwarzenegger, D-Calif., earns more, at $206,500. Fenty makes $200,000 and Gray earns $190,000.
A couple of area governors also made the Top 20 but fell short of Gray and Fenty, according to Stateline.org. Tim Kaine, D-Va., earns $175,000 and Martin O'Malley, D-Md., earns $150,000.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington
