Durham council members debate giving themselves raises

Durham City Council members debated for more than an hour Thursday about whether to give themselves raises.

Ultimately, they decided to hold a public hearing at a later date to hear from residents before making any decision.

Council members earn about $25,000 a year, and they are considering raising that to about $35,000, which would align it with Durham’s minimum livable wage.

Wib Gulley, who served as mayor in the late 1980s, said he thinks a raise makes sense.

"If we don’t pay people to do this work and do it honestly and give it the time, if we don’t pay them for that, it means the only people who can run for mayor and who can serve on the City Council are people who are independently wealthy or people who work at a big business that says, 'You go do that. Don’t worry about it that you’re not working here. We’ll pay your salary,'" Gulley said.

"Democracy says that anyone can run, anyone can serve," he added.

Gulley said he didn't run for a third term as mayor because it wasn't financially feasible for his young family at that time.

"The job of mayor is beyond full time," he said. "I must have averaged 60 hours or more a week trying to be mayor, trying to get out to listen to people, talk to people, do the work, read, stay on top of things. It’s a lot of work. And council member work has only gotten more substantial as well."

Council members echoed those arguments during Thursday's meeting. Several told WRAL News that they don't have full-time jobs because it would detract from their council work.

"I had another job until February 2019. It wasn’t sustainable," Councilwoman Javiera Caballero said. "Since then, I’ve picked up consulting work. ... It’s not been consistent, though."

"I have an administrate agreement with my boss to allow for limited council-related meetings during the day," Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman said of her job with the Durham Children's Initiative.

Council members generally expressed support for the increase, saying it would make serving more financially feasible for a broader population.

"I think that’s appropriate considering the work they do," Durham resident Paul Langan said of giving council members raises. "I think you want an engaged councilperson."

It’s unclear when a raise, if approved, would go into effect. It may be after some current members are no longer on the City Council.

In other business, the council took the following actions:

• Recommended charging unvaccinated city employees for routine coronavirus testing. The $70 surcharge on their health insurance premiums would take effect next July, although the city would have to foot the testing costs until then.

City staff will now draw up a contract with CVS Health for the testing program, which the council will have to approve.

• Considered launching a poet laureate program. The Durham Cultural Advisory Board recommended a $5,000 stipend for the position for a pilot year.

One council member suggested naming the position after Durham native Pauli Murray, a civil rights activist, minister and author.