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Keller @ Large: Boston Council President Seeks Hefty Raise For Members

BOSTON (CBS) - The city council president, Bill Linehan, asked for a 24 percent pay raise for Boston's councilors. This action hasn't occurred in eight years, and would boost councilor salaries by more than $20,000.

However, Mayor Marty Walsh doesn't support the pay raise request. "I feel my salary is more than sufficient; I'm grateful for what I have, and I'm not gonna burden the taxpayers today with additional salaries," Walsh said.

Linehan noted that he took a $13,000 pay cut to become a city councilor. He insisted his members work long hours serving the public, and deserve the pay raise. "District representation has put the district councilors on the front lines. It's a demanding job; in the busy season we can all be doing 65-70 hours a week," he said.

Walsh pointed out that ultimately the voters will decide if the councilors have earned a raise, meaning voters can vote the councilors out next year if they disapprove.

Outside of city hall, reaction to the possible pay hike was not uniformly negative.

"They're the ones taking care of our city and they're the ones looking out for us most," said one Boston resident.

Another resident disagrees, and said, "Not right now. Not with the way things are going, the way education's going, the way government's going. Nothing seems to warrant anyone getting a raise in our public sector."

Linehan will release final details of his plan next week. If his proposal for a raise to a $108,500 salary goes through, it would move Boston into sixth place among U.S. cities in councilor pay, behind Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.

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