Raise for the mayor? Not bloody likely.

With a vote approaching on whether Lincoln’s mayoral salary should be bumped from $75,000 to $100,000 in two years, I asked around to see where the City Council is leaning.
One council member told me he thinks the chance of passage of the raise recommended by a salary study committee is “slim to none.” Some council members are talking about amending the proposed raise, but everybody is likely to be wary of giving the mayor (whoever the next mayor is) a big raise during a recession and budget-tightening at city hall.
The raise wouldn’t go into effect until after the spring city election, and Mayor Chris Beutler has said if he’s re-elected (I guess he’s running!), he will decline the raise, but he thinks it should be approved for future mayors.
Councilman Jon Camp recently wrote to Beutler asking him to withdraw the proposed legislation “in view of the public outcry” and “your quick response and declination to accept any increase.”
A public hearing on the proposal will be held Monday at city hall; meeting starts at 3 p.m.