Abbeville Councilman suggests pay raise for mayor

During the recent Finance Committee meeting of the City of Abbeville, committee chairman Francis Touchet surprised everyone by proposing to increase the Mayor’s yearly salary to $90,000.
While Steve Moosa, the CPA from Darnell, Sikes and Fredericks, was reviewing the line items in next year’s city budget, Touchet voiced his opinion that the Mayor of Abbeville should be the highest-paid employee in the city.
Currently, Mayor Roslyn White earns $79,000 a year, while Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy makes $85,000 yearly.
Touchet felt that the Mayor deserved a raise, as some employees were already making more than her.
However, certain steps need to be taken by the council before the Mayor’s salary is increased. They first need to introduce the pay raise proposal and then vote to change the yearly pay ordinance for a Mayor. The council must also approve the $11,000 pay raise. The council can vote to approve or deny her raise in January 2024.
Mayor Roslyn White was taken aback by Touchet’s suggestion. She expressed her gratitude but stated that she had taken the job knowing what her salary would be.
“I appreciate that,” said White. “Like I have said many times, I took the job knowing what I would make. I am willing to do the job for whatever I make. I do appreciate that.”