City Budget Passes

Taxpayers will be spending 185 million dollars on new cop cars ..fire trucks .. and better roads in the capital city. But some city workers may not see the extra cash.. they could've gotten. A measure the republican's defeated. Springfield aldermen were on fire tonight. It wasn't the budget causing them to scream into their mics ... Rather it was pay raises and who deserves them. "How you going to know [Alderman] Mark [Mahoney]? Let them do their job. That's why they get paid 90 thousand dollars and we're paid thirteen." Said Alderman Frank Kunz, Ward 3. The city attorney may not be getting a proposed 12 thousand dollar increase and the police chief may not get a ten grand hike. Instead ... republican's and a democrat approved a five percent cap on all city workers ... Unless the city council authorizes more. Some aldermen and the mayor say it's political when the council decides who gets a raise and who doesn't. But one alderman blames the arguing on campaigning. "You know what there's an election coming up. If you don't like what the Mayor said then vote against it. Cause that's what this is about. It's about politics. It's not about running this city that aldermen should be doing." Said Kunz. But Alderman Mark Mahoney, Ward 6 said, "I think we do have some responsibility as a city council not necessarily to hold the mayor in check. But we shouldn't agree to everything. I mean I think we should look at when we have raises like that and I think people expect us to do that." Alderman Frank Edward's approved the salary cap ... However he did admit he got a 14 percent increase when he was the fire chief. The pay raise caps will go in affect for next year's budget which starts March 1st. Also tonight at council ... It took them over an hour to talk about whether or not they should place restrictions on a gas and go... Which would completely halt a truck stop like Pilot from coming in allow a Hucks to set up shop on Toronto Road. But they've tabled it again .. they'll debate the issue March 6th.