Editor, the News-Herald:

I misspoke at the council meeting on the fifth of May by saying the city budget proposed a $10,000 increase in salaries for our council members. The budget for the city council went from $158,625 to a recommended $180,461, which is a $21,836 increase. That is about $3,000 more for each council member.

The city manager’s salary and compensation, which is $168,897, is proposed to go up to $180,461, which is a $10,564 increase. These folks are hardly underpaid public servants.

Taxpayers would like to know how much this trip for city official to Italy is going to cost us. Why wasn’t the cost included in the Consent Agenda? It if this city council and staff cannot cut the real property tax rate by a few pennies, maybe it’s time to replace some department heads with some who can frugally manage our tax dolalrs and learn to live on a budget like the rest of us.

William Harward

Manning Road