TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka’s mayor and city council members have voted unanimously to cut their own pay by 6% as they seek ways to deal with plummeting city tax revenues in the wake of measures to slow the COVID-19 outbreak.
The City Council had been considering a measure that would have temporarily reduced their salaries by 3%, but voted instead Tuesday to double that cut, the Capital-Journal reported. The deeper cut came at the suggestion of Councilman Tony Emerson, who noted that City Manager Brent Trout had already voluntarily accepted a 6% pay cut.
Trout has also cut the salaries of management and executive staff by 3% and is asking city employees represented by eight different labor unions to accept a similar pay cut. Trout is also asking to implement a hiring freeze for all but the most critical jobs.
Mayor Michelle De La Isla is paid $40,000 a year, and the nine council members each make $20,000 a year. The temporary pay cut begins with the pay period that starts May 2 and ends with the pay period that ending Dec. 11.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.