Flynn Calls For Salem City Councilors To Take Pay Cut

SALEM, MA — Ward 4 Salem City Councilor Tim Flynn is calling on the body to take pay cuts as the city heads into a difficult budget process as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

"I can not stop thinking about our city budget retreat yesterday," Flynn wrote Sunday on the Facebook page he uses to communicate with constituents. "The idea of possibly being in the hole in the vicinity of 8 million has me very concerned."

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Flynn said he has approached other city councilors about "leading the way" and cutting their annual salary of $15,000 for total savings of $150,000.

"It may not seem like much but maybe it could save a couple people from being laid off or save a program that might be cut," Flynn said. "If any Councillor is doing this job for the money I feel they should not be there in the first place. Instead of talking the talk, let’s walk the walk and be leaders."

Salem and other Massachusetts communities are trying to rework budgets ahead of the fiscal year that begins July 1. In addition to reduced local revenue, municipalities are being warned to expect big cuts in state funding.

The state, which supplements local and school budgets, has lost wage tax revenue from the 689,000 jobs that have vanished since the start of the pandemic, as well as lost sales tax revenue from closed, non-essential businesses. That forced the state legislature was to scrap a budget process that began in December, leaving local governments in limbo. State lawmakers are hoping federal money could make that process easier.

More Coronavirus Coverage On Massachusetts Patch:

• Record Unemployment Hits Some MA Communities Harder Than Others
• MA Small Business Hit Harder Than Most By Coronavirus Shutdown
• CVS Opens Coronavirus Testing Sites In 10 MA Towns
• Coronavirus Case Counts For Every Massachusetts Town (Updated May 13)

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).