Salary increases for Maurice elected officials proposed

MAURICE — Elected officials in the town of Maurice could see salary increases in the future.
Current officials want to make sure that any candidates deciding to run for election this November have an idea of what those salaries will be.
“I think it would be incumbent upon us to set salaries prior to the upcoming election,” Mayor Wayne Theriot said during Wednesday’s monthly Maurice Board of Aldermen meeting.
Maurice will hold its regularly scheduled election in November. Qualifying for that election will be held July 20-22.
“We will have to introduce an ordinance for each of the positions and set the salaries,” Theriot said.
Those proposed ordinances will be discussed during a public hearing at the board of aldermen meeting on July 20. That meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Maurice City Hall. That is the day qualifying opens.
“We really can’t do anything sooner,” Theriot said. “We at least want to have a base figure to discuss for each of the positions.”
On Wednesday, current officials proposed increases for mayor, chief of police and the five members of the board of aldermen.
Aldermen Warren Rost suggested that the chief of police salary be bumped to $50,000. That number would include the hospitalization allowance, which comes to around $3,000, as well as any other applicable benefits. Current Chief of Police Guy Nerren’s salary is $46,000, including those benefits.
Alderwoman Phyllis Johnson motioned to increase the mayor’s salary from $30,000 to $38,000. That also includes the hospital allowance.
Johnson, who previously announced that she does not plan to seek re-election, suggested that the salary for members of the board of aldermen be increased to $700 a month, up from the current $500 a month.
“If you go with the $700,” Theriot said, “I would recommend that Mayor Pro-Tem receive an extra $50 to $100 a month.”
Johnson currently serves as the mayor pro-tem. The next mayor pro-tem will be voted on by the new board of aldermen upon recommendation of the mayor. That will take place after the new officials are sworn in.
“The mayor pro-tem has certain duties and responsibilities that the other members do not,” Theriot said.