Mayor cuts cop, firefighter pay to minimum wage
The mayor of Scranton will likely have to buy his own coffee cup too.
The Michael Scott style of management must be infectious.
In Scranton, Penn., home of the mythical Dunder Mifflin paper company, the mayor has reduced the pay of all city workers, including his own, to the federal minimum wage — $7.25.
Let’s hope Mayor Chris Doherty doesn’t need a firefighter or cop anytime soon. He’s not likely to receive quality service.
NPR reports Doherty made the move after city council voted to reject a proposed tax hike. Scranton, the sixth largest city in the state, had only $5,000 in the bank and owed $1 million in pay to its 400 or so employees.
There’s no indication in the article that salaries for city workers are out of control — one firefighter said his gross income was $1,500 every two weeks. Now his check is for $600 after deductions. He’s probably pawning the fire station’s Dalmation to pay his mortgage.
Employees are suing. Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse issued an injunction but the mayor ordered the city issue paychecks based on the minimum wage.
A protracted legal battle is just what a city with a $16 million budget shortfall needs.
I’ve not looked closely at Scranton’s budget woes, but why didn’t the mayor do the American thing and simply declare bankruptcy?
After all, what’s good for General Motors is good for America … and maybe Scranton.
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43 comments Add your comment
WowFactor
July 10th, 2012
9:03 am
WOW! I bet he has loads in his bank account already and perhaps own several businesses where he doesnt need his paycheck. You just hurt the ones that live paycheck to paycheck and couldn’t afford to lose 5 cents on a single check. Now the City will not declare bankruptcy, but its other 399 employees (minus the mayor) will be declaring bankruptcy soon! Talk about stress and lowered morale on job—guess I better fill my buckets with water and arm myself, because I will get minimum wage service for sure!
A. E.
July 10th, 2012
9:54 am
This is easy. Your wage is cut to minimum wage, then you work like minimum wage…do the bare minimum. Show up at the station…do nothing. Sit in the police car…do nothing….at all. People will stop trying to screw you if you stop bending over.
LukasAtl
July 10th, 2012
10:02 am
Seems like a case of too much outflow (expesnes) and not enough inflow (revenue / taxes) …… maybe layoff some employees ….. stop using paperclips and staples …. etc
geneb
July 10th, 2012
10:12 am
One sure thing here, the cops may work for starvation wages but they won’t be starving. Still get those Duncan Donuts gratis! ! ! !
Samantha
July 10th, 2012
10:16 am
City Council should have increased the taxes. Just like the Mayor of Atlanta need to increase our taxes. This is a shame…how do he expect his employees to survive? That is just wrong how he dropped all of his employees pay to min. wage. Wrong, just wrong…all because he wanted to have his way. He is acting like an irresponsible child!
Tanya Harris
July 10th, 2012
10:33 am
How in the world can you expect someone to lay their lives down on a daily basis protecting a city that’s not paying him/her enough to feed their families? That’s cold! Be mindful of who you’re voting for.
CherylS
July 10th, 2012
10:43 am
Time to strike
Michelle
July 10th, 2012
10:47 am
If their cops are anything like ours, they’re already overpaid!
marks
July 10th, 2012
10:59 am
you folks are amazing, with very little information you betray your ignorance, idid you all know Scranton has a local income tax? I bet you did not, its 2.4%, they also increased the rate used to calculate property taxes. I bet Scranton (a steel town) like many other areas except Washington DC area, saw property values drop. Now since most Americans’ wealth is tied up in their houses I bet Scranton residents are not looking forward to paying more property taxes especially since the unemployment rate in Scranton in May is 8.7%. Finally, over 55% of the budget is for fire/police. I know those are critical areas but if your company was experiencing lower earnings, would you expect them to cut costs or raise prices? I guess that is the problem with government, when revenue drops they raise taxes (prices) not cut costs.
Goosenco
July 10th, 2012
11:02 am
Really Michelle? do you have any idea what those “overpaid” people do for a living? Do you make more than minimum wage sitting at your desk? Is anyone shooting at you? Is your family worried if you’ll make it home night after night? before you run your mouth you best be aware of what those who work in civil service actually do. GOD help you if you need the police or fire dept to help you in your time of need.