NewsWhore
01-08-2008, 04:00 PM
City Councilors in San Cristobal are denying accusations by Mayor Jose Montas that they had agreed to give themselves a 49% pay increase equivalent to RD$151,905 per month in so-called "per diems." City council leader Leonardo Reynoso said that the councilors' salaries were only increased to RD$96,000, of which RD$20,000 are taken out in the form of taxes. Reynoso said the salary increase was only 30% and therefore not illegal. Reynoso added that it was totally untrue that the wage increase will be at the expense of the police, fire department, library and other city department budgets, as Montas claimed in his criticism of the increase. Reynoso said that Montas has approved salary increases for high ranking city officials, including himself, totaling between 40% and 75% and that Montas had also agreed to the purchase of RD$10 million's worth of luxury SUVs for high-ranking San Cristobal city hall officials.
Regardless of Reynoso's justifications, Interior and Police deputy-minister Domingo Jimenez described the salary increase as illegal. Jimenez explained that no city government could exceed 25% of the budget in personnel payments considering that 40% must go to public works projects. He also explained that no deputy mayor could have a salary that exceeds 60% of the mayor's salary. Adding to the noise caused by the salary increase, PRD and PRSC representatives have also voiced their opposition.
PRD general secretary Orlando Jorge Mera and PRSC president Federico Antun Batlle both advised city council members from their respective parties to revoke the decision.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
Regardless of Reynoso's justifications, Interior and Police deputy-minister Domingo Jimenez described the salary increase as illegal. Jimenez explained that no city government could exceed 25% of the budget in personnel payments considering that 40% must go to public works projects. He also explained that no deputy mayor could have a salary that exceeds 60% of the mayor's salary. Adding to the noise caused by the salary increase, PRD and PRSC representatives have also voiced their opposition.
PRD general secretary Orlando Jorge Mera and PRSC president Federico Antun Batlle both advised city council members from their respective parties to revoke the decision.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)