Video: Columbus Mayor Breaks 3-3 Tie to Raise Own Pay

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Columbus Mayor Robert Smith could become one of the highest-paid small-town mayors in the state and city workers could get their first raise in years starting Oct. 1.

Smith broke a 3-3 tie to raise his pay $10,000 to more than $88,000 per year. It’s part of a budget that includes 3 percent raises for all employees and larger ones for some administrators.

But the budget still would force the council to take more than $400,000 from reserves, raise property taxes or cut more spending.

The council likely will revisit all the issues in a series of study sessions before finalizing the budget by Sept. 15.