Canal Winchester Village Council members have pledged not to accept the 25 percent raises they voted to give themselves this summer, after the mayor said he wouldn't take a raise.

It won't save much money -- the part-time village council members make $4,800 a year -- but they said it shows solidarity with their 32 full-time village employees who won't receive raises.

Decisions by top officials to turn down raises have become more common, although not ubiquitous, as cities struggle to balance budgets in a tough economy.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman froze his $152,000 salary this year along with those of 400 employees under his control, and he's agreed to do the same thing next year. City council members followed suit for 2009, although they're still discussing what to do next year.

State legislators are considering giving themselves a 5 percent pay cut, and communities from Circleville in Pickaway County to Richwood in Union County decided to nix raises for municipal leaders this month.

Canal Winchester Village Council members were talking about rejecting the bump in their paychecks even as they approved the raises four months ago.

Councilman John Bender said that they approved the raises only to keep salaries competitive with other communities.

It set their pay at $5,100 for 2010 and $6,000 for 2011. The council president makes an extra $492. The council convenes twice a month and holds committee meetings to discuss issues in advance.

The council also approved a 6.7 percent raise over two years for the mayor, whose salary is $75,000.

Last Monday, Mayor Michael Ebert gave the council a letter declining his raise. Council members said they plan to do the same.

Village officials are worried they could lose about $800,000 in revenue if Waste Management leaves town because of an ongoing debate about trash flow.

The village has worked to cut that from its $6 million budget for next year, which already was down about half a million dollars from this year partly because it is collecting less tax revenue, the mayor said.

Ebert isn't up for re-election, but council members Bobbie Mershon, Leah Turner and Bender are on the ballot in two weeks.

"Some people may perceive that this was done for the election, but I honestly don't think it was," Bender said. "If other employees don't get raises, then why should council?"

egibson@dispatch.com

"If other employees don't get raises, then why should council?"

John Bender
Canal Winchester councilman