COLUMBUS, Miss.- Columbus Mayor Robert Smith told the City Council to take back his $10,000 pay raise today.
Smith told WCBI-TV Friday that he’s giving up the raise because it’s distracting from other issues.
Smith has been criticized for breaking a 3-3 tie in favor of the raise during the Aug. 6 budget session that included approval of deep cuts in budget requests and talk of a possible tax increase or dipping into city reserves to balance the budget.
He earlier defended the money as a reward for his hard work. Smith earns $78,797 a year.
