Council approves salary raises for next mayor and council members

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - City Council members voted 3-2 Tuesday to increase the mayor's pay by 34% and council members pay by 68% for the 2017-2021 term.

Mayor Johnny DuPree said it raises the current salary for the mayor from $81,900 to $110,000.

He said future council members' salary will increase from $16,000 to $27,000.

Council President Carter Carroll and Vice President Mary Dryden were the two members who opposed the raises. DuPree raises were long overdue.

“When you look at $150 and $160 million budget that we have to manage, you look at six, seven hundred employees, we have to manage" said Mayor DuPree.

He added, "And then you look across the state, at some of the other positions of mayor and positions of city council and you see the salaries and we are kinda out of kilter here.”

The raise will take into effect next July.