Boston City Council OK's big raises for itself, Mayor

The Boston Globe reports:

After six minutes of debate and with no roll call vote, Boston city councilors approved 16.6 percent raises yesterday for themselves and the mayor.

The raises would increase the councilors' salaries from $75,000 a year to $87,500 and the mayor's annual pay from $150,000 to $175.000. Base pay for Massachusetts legislators is $55,570, with an additional $15,000 annually for those who chair legislative committees. The Massachusetts governor's salary is $135,000 annually.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino must still sign the measure.

''It's striking that city councilors are paid so much more than state legislators, who have much greater authority and responsibility," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Gouging the taxpayers.Public sector greed.