Taylor voters will have final say on city council pay raise

Taylor voters to vote on city council pay

Earlier this year, more than 1300 Taylor residents signed a petition opposing their city council's move to give itself a 4,000 percent pay raise. That inspired another petition, which was presented this week.

TAYLOR, Texas - Voters in Taylor will have the final say on whether to give city council members a big-time pay raise.

"I want it rescinded, and if it has to go to the elections, then so be it," said Dwayne Ariola, a Taylor city council member.

Petition against Taylor council pay raise

Taylor City Council members are considering giving themselves a big raise, from $25 to $1,000 a month. Supporters say it will help members afford to do more for their community, but some residents say a 4,000 percent raise is ridiculous. Not there's a ballot petition aiming to let voters decide.

Taylor City Council voted to put its most recent pay increase in the hands of voters. This after more than 1,300 people signed a petition saying $500 per meeting, and $750 per meeting for the mayor, was just too much, instead suggesting a more modest raise.

"That's what I wanted, but for the town I think it would've been better if the town had just rescinded the original one and accepted what the compensation committee had chosen," said Terry Burris, who organized the first petition.

One petition quickly turned into two.

"The thing that drove us to do the second was that referendum was temporary, and city council has 100 percent control over what they do after that referendum vote," said Gary Gola, who organized the second petition. "The message is they need to listen to voters."

RELATED: City of Taylor approves petition against 4,000 percent pay raise for council members

The second petition proposes several amendments to the City Charter. The first would lock in council pay at $125 per meeting, something only voters would have the power to change.

If approved, the petition would also declare the "at-large" member of council as the mayor, and it would ensure city council meetings or workshops are actually held in Taylor.

"Our council went to Horseshoe Bay and spent the night at a resort and held an actual council meeting," Gola said. "If they're going to hold council meetings, they need to do it within the city limits of Taylor so the citizens can attend those meetings."