Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot has told Chicago voters not to believe their lying eyes as she seeks to give herself a big pay raise.
Lightfoot proposed an ordinance giving the office of the mayor an annual inflation raise capped at 5 percent.
However, she insists that it’s not a pay raise.
Lightfoot currently makes $209,915 a year.
The proposal would allow the mayor’s salary to increase up to 5% each year but the mayor can opt out of the raise.
Despite changing the rules to allow her to increase her own salary by over $10,000 a year, Lightfoot argues that she is not giving herself a raise.
“It’s not a salary increase,” the Democrat mayor insists.
“I want to make sure that’s clear.
“It puts us in line with the aldermen, in line with all of the other elected officials regarding a cost-of-living increase.
“It would not go into effect until 2024. And the mayor, the clerk, and the treasurer would have the ability to opt in or opt out.”
Lightfoot said this salary increase wouldn’t be a salary increase: “To be clear, the ordinance that was introduced today would put the mayor, the city treasurer and the clerk in line with (aldermen) regarding a cost of living increase. It’s not a salary increase.” https://t.co/2lSFCS4X61
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) October 26, 2022
Two prominent Democrats have already opted in.
Clerk Anna Valencia and Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin have both said they will accept the inflation raise, from $133,545 to $161,016, in Lightfoot’s 2023 budget.
Chicago Tribune Gregory Pratt said:
“Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is introducing an ordinance to give the mayor an annual inflation raise capped at 5 percent, with an option to opt out when it’s too politically hot.
“Lightfoot said this salary increase wouldn’t be a salary increase.
“Mayor Lori Lightfoot is hosting just her second press conference this month.
“Her office is restricting the traditional two questions per reporter, allegedly because there’s too many of us (it’s about what it always is).”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is introducing an ordinance to give the mayor an annual inflation raise capped at 5 percent, with an option to opt out when it’s too politically hot pic.twitter.com/6I7gf1LxZA
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) October 26, 2022
Lightfoot proposes yearly pay hikes for mayor tied to inflation, with 5% cap on annual salary increases https://t.co/GvFZwtJUse
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) October 26, 2022
