LYNCHBURG, Va. – Updated Story:
Tuesday night proved to be a cash clash in Lynchburg.
“You didn’t speak plainly enough - you spoke enough,” Council Marty Misjuns said to Vice-Mayor Chris Faraldi.
During a work session, council members were presented with the option of giving out raises: to themselves.
“I wanted to know where this came from, and if it was requested by members of this body to have the manager bring it forward. Because I thought the public had to know, so I asked. And I was surprised to hear that this did come to us from Councilman Misjuns,” Faraldi said.
The idea of salary raises for council isn’t new - in fact, it was passed in 2019.
But when Covid hit, they voted not to receive that raise - but as Misjuns brought up, the budget increase stayed a part of city code.
“Mr. Freedman, is an ordinance law in the city?” Misjuns asked.
“Yes,” City Attorney Matthew Freedman said.
“An ordinance is law. So by the city failing to pay us in accordance with what the ordinance is saying, the city has violated it’s own law,” Misjuns said.
But how much of an increase are we talking about?
“A 40% pay increase,” Faraldi said.
40% may sound like a substantial jump - but let’s break that down.
Council members currently make $10,000 a year - and with a 40% bump, would make $14,000.
The mayor makes $12,000 and would make $16,000, meaning a $4,000 increase per person - which Faraldi says is too much.
“A 40% pay increase to council is not the highest and best use of these dollars,” he said.
Even if the increase is approved, it still puts council $29,000 under the state maximum salary for a city the size of Lynchburg.
“A politician should not vote themselves a pay increase. No other words need to be said on it outside of this: I believe it’s wrong,” Faraldi said.
Lynchburg isn’t the only one looking at council pay.
Roanoke voted earlier this summer to bump council pay from $23,000 to $33,000. That’s almost a 44% increase.
And Danville voted to increase their salaries to the maximum allowed - going from $10,000 to $34,000 - a 240% increase.
And the mayor salaries bump up about the same amount.
“Do you know anyone receiving a 40% increase to their take home pay in this economy? Worse, do you know anyone that can arbitrarily grant it to themselves?” Faraldi said.
“That was all probably the most impressive pieces of propaganda I’ve ever heard... Contradiction exists with what the Vice Mayor just stated. Here’s someone that always talks about the rules, the process, the procedures,” Misjuns said.
A public hearing on this and other matters will be held September 24.
Original Story:
Tensions ran high during Lynchburg City Council Tuesday night, as the council met to discuss salary increases for council members.
An ordinance allowing for the 40% increase was adopted by the council in 2019, but when COVID-19 hit, that budget had to be completely reworked.
At the time, council voted to not receive that increase, but the budget increase for council stayed in city code.
On Tuesday, the matter was brought before council during their work session.
It would be a one time sum of $30,142, which equals out to a 40% pay increase.
Currently, council members make $10,000. The raise would increase that to $14,000 a year.
The mayor currently makes $12,000. The raise would bump that to $16,000 a year.
Vice-Mayor Chris Faraldi voiced his concerns after the presentation.
“I am very pleased with a lot of things this council has done ... but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Faraldi said.
He went on to say he opposed the pay raise.
“Instead of finding creative solutions to these challenges and these issues, we’re here being presented with and now discussing how to give ourselves a 40% pay increase with back pay ... A politician should not vote themselves a pay increase. Just simply no other words need to be said on it outside of this: I believe it’s wrong.”
During his remarks, Faraldi said he discovered Councilman Marty Misjuns asked to bring the topic of raises back up.
“That was one of the most impressive pieces of propaganda I’ve ever heard,” Misjuns responded.
This is a developing story. Please check back on air and online as we learn more.