New Albany aldermen rescind mayor’s raise for the coming year

New Albany Mayor Tim Kent will not be getting a salary raise during the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Although the board voted at its Tuesday, Sept. 10 meeting, to give the mayor the same three percent raise most city employees will enjoy during the coming year, it reversed that decision today (Thursday, Sept. 12). On a motion by Alderman-at-Large Keith Conlee, the board today voted 4 to 1 to leave Kent’s salary for the coming year the same as this year.

The mayor’s current salary is $84,332. As originally approved by the board Tuesday night, the mayor would have been paid $2,530 more –$86,862 — during the year starting Oct. 1, 2019.

At the Tuesday night board meeting First Ward Alderwoman, Amy Livingston, questioned whether the New Albany mayor should be earning that much money. Livingston pointed out that mayors of similar-sized, nearby Mississippi municipalities make much less. She mentioned mayors of Booneville and Pontotoc earning $50,000 or less annually.

Reacting to the change, Mayor Kent told NAnewsweb.com this afternoon, “I will continue working to do my best for the people of New Albany.”

Alderman-at-Large Conlee, First Ward Alderwoman Livingston, Second Ward Alderman Johnny Anderson, and Ward Four Alderman Will Tucker voted today to keep the mayor’s pay the same for the coming year. Ward Three Alderman Kevin Dale White voted to give Kent the $2,530 increase.

“After the vote Tuesday, I talked with the other aldermen and people in the community,” Conlee said. “I have nothing against Tim. I like him, but the people of New Albany would never have forgiven me if I had voted to let the $86,862-salary stand for the coming year.”

More about the 2019-2020 city budget and other actions related to it will be published on NAnewsweb.com Monday, Sept. 16.

Budget discussed September 10: http://newalbanyunionco.com/city-board-3sep2019-city-2019-2020-budget/