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Queen Creek councilwoman backs council pay cuts
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Lisa Coletto-Cohen
Queen Creek Town Councilwoman Lisa Coletto-Cohen is calling for the council to tighten its collective belt as the town slashes its budget.
Last week, Town Manager John Kross recommended laying off 14 employees, eliminating 23 vacant positions, reducing part-time positions, modifying the workweek to 37.5 hours for full-time staff, and cutting salaried staff pay by 6.25 percent.
During a budget committee meeting Wednesday, Coletto-Cohen asked that the council's soon-to-be increased salaries be subject to a 6.25 percent cut that salaried staff will receive.
The council last year approved council salaries increasing from $300 to $900 a month and the mayor's salary to increase from $500 to $1,500 a month.
The council's pay increase is to become effective with the seating of the new council on June 4.
Coletto-Cohen, along with Councilman-elect Jeff Brown, also asked that health insurance benefits, a cost of about $37,000, be cut for the council.
"Leadership starts at the top - we need to be doing things we're asking others to take on," Coletto-Cohen said.
Last year, the council voted to make health insurance available to council members at taxpayers' cost.
"I'd like to see insurance go away entirely (for the council)," Brown said.
Assistant Town Manager Patrick Flynn said the temporary pay cut could be instituted as it will be for town staff - until the local economy improves.
Councilman Gordon Mortensen said he wants to see the recommended cuts brought before the entire council for consideration.
Mortensen and Coletto-Cohen also recommended the council's continuing education budget be cut from $3,500 to $2,000 per member.
The town's recommended budget cuts, outside of the layoffs that were instituted this week, will be presented to the council on May 21.
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