City Council President Verna volunteers for pay cut
City Council President Anna C. Verna will take a 5 percent salary cut beginning Jan. 1, joining other elected officials who have volunteered for cuts in the face of a daunting budget deficit.
City Council President Anna C. Verna will take a 5 percent salary cut beginning Jan. 1, joining other elected officials who have volunteered for cuts in the face of a daunting budget deficit.
Verna quietly circulated a memo to fellow Council members yesterday afternoon, letting them know of her decision and asking her colleagues to contact her if they were inclined to do the same.
On Friday, Verna said she would help Mayor Nutter solve the city's projected $1 billion, five-year budget shortfall by cutting 10 percent from Council's $12.4 million budget, but said she would do it without asking Council members to cut their salaries.
Verna's give-back would amount to $7,043 of her $140,864 salary. Nutter has committed to a 10 percent cut, and Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci has said he will take a 5 percent cut. Other elected officials, including City Commissioner Margaret Tartaglione and Controller Alan Butkovitz, said they would likely reduce their salaries as well.
Verna could not be reached for comment last night.
In the 17-member Council, some have been reluctant to be first to step out with a salary cut, fearful of showing up or pressuring their colleagues. With Verna taking the lead, it's clear some members will follow.
"Although it represents a small part of the $1 billion problem, if it is designed to be a symbolic show of unity toward addressing the problem, if this will allow serious consideration to be given to our proposals for savings, then let it start with us," said City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.
Nutter, through a spokesman, praised Verna.
"Council President Verna has demonstrated tremendous leadership, and I am personally and professionally grateful," Nutter said. "The Council president gets it - she understands the severity of the fiscal challenge we're facing, as well as others in City Council, and I hope other independently elected officials will understand."
