The D.C. Council might save the city more than $75,000 if their agreement to give up their automatic cost-of-living increases goes through.
Each council member currently makes $125,583 a year, plus annual cost-of-living adjustments. The COLAs range between 3 and 5 percent a year, which comes out a little over $45,000 on the low end and over $75,000 at the high end -- the latter of which could add up to a staffer or two, according to D.C. Wire.
Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray -- who does not get a yearly adjustment, but does earn $190,000 -- said he talked to all 12 of his colleagues and they're all aboard with giving up the raises.
We don't think it's too much to ask. What with the upcoming layoffs, the citywide freeze on salaries for most municipal workers, and the fact that council members have received a 35% increase in salary since 2006, it's the least they could do, writes DCist's Aaron Morrisey.
