May 8, 2008 10:15 am US/Eastern
Newton Mayor Takes Back Salary Request
Tax Override Group Asks Him Not To Seek Re-Election
NEWTON, Mass. (WBZ) ―
Newton Mayor David Cohen has reportedly rescinded his request for a 28 percent pay raise, and now a group is asking him not to seek re-election.
Cohen wanted a $27,600 pay raise at the same time he was asking the city to approve a $12 million property tax increase.
The Newton Tab reports Cohen made the decision not to seek the raise on Wednesday.
Cohen's proposed budget would have boosted the mayor's salary from $97,876 to $125,482, according to the Boston Globe.
The mayor has not had a pay increase since he was first elected 10 years ago. In 2005, aldermen authorized Cohen to increase his salary to $125,000, but he declined.
Cohen warned Monday of major service cuts, including a possible reduction in the city's police force, unless voters approved the Proposition 2 1/2 override.
Supporters and opponents of the override are questioning the timing of the salary request.
Members of Move Newton Forward – a group supporting the tax override – are asking Cohen not to seek re-election in 2009.
According to the Newton Tab, the group said Cohen's salary request has hurt the chances of passing the tax override. "There is a growing consensus that the mayor will not be able to attract support for another run in 2009. In the interest of clarifying the critical decision that Newton voters will be asked to make on May 20, we urge the Mayor to announce that he will not run for re-election."
The co-chair of Move Newton Forward told the Tab the statement was an attempt by the group to separate the mayor from the override.
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