Some City Employees Got Raises, while Others Laid Off

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Today Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin defended pay raises that the city has given to dozens of city employees this summer, after laying off hundreds of others. In some cases, the salary increases were close to $20,000.

Franklin told reporters that the raises were simply a part of city government continuing its operations.

FRANKLIN: The city has set policies. Within those policies there are allowances for pay raises, work assignment, hours of work. And to my knowledge, we have not violated that.

But Councilmember Felicia Moore thinks there's something amiss:

MOORE 2: I have sort of a philosophical issue with it that we've let go over 500 employees prior to enduring this budget season. I just find it interesting that there's still enough money in the budget to give increases, while at the same time decreasing the workforce.

Five of the salary increases were for city council staffers. But some of the heftiest raises were for personnel in the city's Human Resources department, amounts of 15 or 16 thousand dollars.

Councilmember Moore says this information could help her on August 18th when the council tries to override the mayor's veto of an ordinance that restores oversight of pay increases to City Council.