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| Updated: 12/15/2011 12:43 pm |
Published: 12/14/2011 10:18 pm |
BENTON, AR - Benton mayor David Mattingly could get a $5,000 raise despite the city's financial issues.
Mayor Mattingly says he did not ask for the raise and can not justify it. The Benton Finance Committee is behind the action, they voted unanimously Wednesday night to include the raise in the city’s 2012 budget. They believe that the raise is essential in order to attract future candidates to the job.
At the same time, the city has drainage problems that will take and estimated $10 million to fix. At Lake Pauline, the erosion is so bad that the asphalt from the road is actually falling into the creek.
“It actually looks like a miniature Benton Grand Canyon,” said Mattingly.
In order to raise funds to fix the drainage problems, and other issues as well, the city council will consider an additional 5% tax on alcohol revenues. That tax is expected to raise $100,000 per year for Benton.
On Monday the 19th, the city council will vote on both the mayor’s 8% raise and the alcohol tax.
