Brookhaven mayor's proposed pay raise causing a fuss

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — One week before its first anniversary as a city, Brookhaven's mayor has proposed a big pay raise for the city manager.

Channel 2 Action News has received calls from people in Brookhaven, saying the proposed budget gives the city manager a 45 percent pay raise.

On Wednesday, Channel 2's Jeff Dore got Mayor J. Max Davis' explanation. Dore went over the budget with Davis, zeroing in on the line for city manager pay. Concerned residents saw a leap of hundreds of thousands of dollars and gave Dore a call.

Davis said the office will expand from one city manager to an assistant and a half-time assistant, so only part of that money will go to a city manager's raise.

"She is going to get a raise because goodness, she deserves it. She has saved us literally millions of dollars. But the figures of 45 percent or $45,000, whatever it is, is just not true," the mayor said.

Dore could not pin the mayor down, though, on how much of raise city manager Bonnie Kline will get because, Davis said, they are still negotiating a contract.

It will certainly be more than for other city employees.

The city manager requested 4 percent for all employees. The City Council is considering that. It might be less. It might be a bonus instead of a raise.

City council member Rebecca Chase Williams stated via email that the city manager has negotiated savings of millions for Brookhaven, and she feels good about paying her to sign a new contract to stay.

WSBTV