(Video above: Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) is interviewed by Cliff Sims on Yellowhammer Radio)
Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) revealed to Cliff Sims on Wednesday’s edition of Yellowhammer Radio that the Birmingham City Council attempted earlier this year to gain access to an “unlimited” expense account that would be funded by local taxpayers.
“There was a bill delivered to my office in Montgomery during the Regular Session,” explained Waggoner, “which would have given the City Council men and women an unlimited — and let me stress unlimited — expense account. I did not even consider it, but it was delivered to my office… “This is taxpayer money. It has not been made public, but I thought you would be the proper one to know about it first. It’s been under the radar.”
These revelations come on the heels of the Council voting 8-1 to raise their individual salaries from $15,000 per year to $50,000 per year, starting in 2017.
“On top of the salary, which has just gone from $15,000 to $50,000… they each have an $800 per month expense account, which is right at $10,000 (per year). So we’re really talking about going from $15,000 to $60,000,” said Waggoner.
Sims said he has grown frustrated with Birmingham’s “liberal” city government, but said he thought the Council’s latest machinations could finally compel voters to make a change.
“This is the kind of thing that is so egregious that even people who would normally be supportive of what they are trying to do are going to look at this and say, ‘We can’t stand for this anymore.'”
Waggoner agreed.
“I’ve talked to a lot of members of our delegation — some of which are Democrats — and they are outraged over the pay increase,” he said. “When we go back into Regular Session there is going to be a lot of interest in making some changes, and these are some Democrats talking to me. They’re outraged also.”
“It was really sneaky the way they passed (the pay increase), whether they admit it or not,” he continued. “There was no public notice, no public hearing. We in the Legislature can require that… Some of my colleagues are interested in putting a lid on the amount (of expense money they can receive). There are some interested in capping or putting a lid on it, or repealing it… It’s a work in progress.”
Waggoner also predicted later in the interview that no taxes will be raised in the upcoming Special Legislative Session and that the budget would be balanced with cuts and reforms. The full interview can be heard in the video above.
A call to the office of Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin was not immediately returned.
Yellowhammer Radio airs daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Superstation WYDE and can be streamed online on the TuneIn app.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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