East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden sent a memo to members of the Metropolitan Council on Wednesday, urging them to freeze his salary for the next four years, according to a news release from Holden’s office.
“In light of the current financial status … and the downturn in the economy affecting our residents, I respectfully ask that you not increase my salary,” Holden said in the memo.
Scott Dyer, spokesman for Holden’s office, said the issue of a pay increase appears on the Council’s agenda once every four years.
The Council will also consider increasing the salaries of the city constable and city court judges, an issue that won’t be affected by Holden’s request, Dyer said.
“A lot of people in Baton Rouge are not getting salary increases,” he said. “He’s kind of being part of the crowd.”
Dyer said Council members will vote on the issue at their meeting March 23.
He said in making their decision, members will probably consider the implications their votes could have on future officials.
Dyer said the decision to freeze the mayor’s salary will go into effect Jan. 1, 2013, and will remain in place for four years regardless of whether Holden is in office.
“If for whatever reason he’s not elected or not in office, whoever is mayor will have to live with the freeze,” Dyer said.
Dyer said he can’t be sure what the Council will ultimately decide.
“I gave up trying to predict what the Council will do a long time ago,” he said. “They’re full of surprises.”
Dyer said in an e-mail Holden’s current salary is $127,672 and will increase to $131,502 in 2012. The freeze would take effect in 2013.
If the Council votes not to freeze the mayor’s salary, Dyer said Holden’s salary will increase 3 percent each year, and he’ll be paid $148,006 per year by 2016.
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]