BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — A recent pay raise for Baltimore County Council members sparked debate among taxpayers, with many weighing in on whether the jump is justified.
Council members voted Monday to pass Bill 92-26, approving a salary increase of 73.6 %. The new pay structure will take effect after the November election and raise council members’ salaries from $69,000 to $119,750 per year. Nino Mangione and David Marks were the only two council members to vote against the bill.
Some residents voiced concerns over the decision to raise council pay. One taxpayer said, “I feel like the numbers are too high. We don’t get paid enough. I don’t pay enough to get my money taken that I worked so hard for to go into things that the county automatically decides without asking us taxpayers.”
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Another resident said, “I think that’s crazy and the fact that they can just vote to give themselves more money is kind of insane. We can’t do that. I mean, I’m a server and it’s not like I can go to my manager and be like, hey, I need more money.”
Others supported the increase, citing the workload and responsibilities of council members. “I think they should be compensated for their efforts and their work. This day and time, things are getting harder, not easier. So, when it comes down to managing the people. I think compensating and giving the raise is a good thing.”
Councilmember Izzy Patoka, a supporter of the bill, cited an increase in their workload. “We are in a society where there’s demand for instant response. And what that means is the workload for a council member is significantly more,” Patoka said.
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Mangione, one of the two members who voted no, addressed taxpayer concerns. “I didn’t run for office to give myself a pay raise. I fought against it from the beginning of the primary election when it came about. I fight for the taxpayers, Cassidie. And frankly, you know, after last night, I’m a little bit disappointed because I believe that the taxpayers of Baltimore County were let down,” he said.
When asked to respond to the argument that the workload justifies a raise, Mangione said, “I tried to raise awareness on this issue to see if we could beat what ultimately turned out to be a partisan bill. And it’s unfortunate that it was, it ended up being a partisan vote. But with that said again, I just respectfully disagree with Councilman Patoka’s take on this bill.”
Some residents are asking what they will get in return. One said, “Well, I think it’s time for some stimulus checks to come in the mailbox.”
Mangione urged voters to consider the council’s decision closely as the November election approaches. “This should be something in the next two weeks before the election that every citizen in Baltimore County who’s going to vote should take into consideration. Should we be prioritizing? And who voted for and against this bill? Who was putting the priority of the taxpayers first,” he said.
WBFF will continue to follow developments on this issue and monitor any impact on county residents’ finances as the new council pay takes effect.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
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