Friday, February 15, 2008

Ricketts Turns Down Raise He Couldn't Accept

When I read this headline, "Mayor Declines $15,000 Raise This Year", I had to laugh. First, Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts sought a $15,000 a year pay raise during his first month in office because he was going to have so much more work to do now that the city was getting back the water utility former Mayor Tom Schneider illegally turned over to some of his cronies at a cost of millions to Lawrence taxpayers. The city's Utility Service Board quickly approved his raise, but the attorneys said not so fast. It turns out the raise is illegal. That led Ricketts to issue this statement: “I must respectfully decline this offer. Rest assured that this in no way (will) diminish my resolve and dedication to achieving the maximum reduction possible in our water rates.” According to the Star's Cathy Kightlinger, Ricketts will be back next year to pick up his pay raise. "Ricketts said the council could build a raise into his salary this year for next year," Kightlinger writes. “We’ll have to talk about that when the budget comes,” said Ricketts.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can anyone confirm that Greg Ballard has retained former Bart Peterson "back stabber" John Dillon? I find it rather difficult to believe that Greg Ballard is so stupid that he kept the dirty people who attacked him and so many of his supporters during the election! God is this man stupid!

Anonymous said...

Lawrence Indiana....It would be sad if it wasn't so funny! Why anyone would choose to live or do business there is beyond me.

Anonymous said...

Do away with Lawrence and pull them into the CIty of Indianapolis.

Ricketts and all his dirty tricks...he oughta be ashamed.

Anonymous said...

No one wants to live in Lawrence...they just cant afford any place decent to live....

Anonymous said...

Lawrence, Indiana is one of the finest communities in Indiana. We have ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES of a small city (44,000) and America's 12th largest city.

Yes, we have affordable housing and we also have some of the NICEST HOMES in Marion county along the northern part of our city that borders Geist.

I love living in Lawrence! I'm also glad that SOME of your readers do NOT know what a wonderful city that Lawrence is to live in.