Detroit city council cuts staff salaries

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Detroit city council members are taking a voluntary pay cut and also cutting their staffs’ salaries.

One week after Mayor Dave Bing reduced the mayoral staff’s salary by 10%, city council members followed suit. Council’s staff will reduce their salary by 10% through furlough days.

Council members also passed a resolution allowing them to voluntarily reduce their salaries by 10%. Only the city’s compensation commission can set council’s pay.

Members JoAnn Watson and James Tate already reduce their salaries through various measures, including opting out of benefits. President Charles Pugh showed frustration, saying he wants to opt out of his benefits plan, but isn’t able to because open enrollment isn’t until August.

“I was offering a chance for the city to take way more than (10%),” said Pugh. “That would in effect be $7,000 from me versus $70,000 from me that I pay in fringe benefits.”