Mayor Tom Rowland stands in front of the shops of downtown Cleveland, Tenn.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – An effort to increase the annual salary of the Cleveland mayor from $12,000 to $40,000 ended with a compromise at $24,000 in the Cleveland City Council on Friday.
The ultimate 4-3 vote to double Mayor Tom Rowland’s pay came in the fourth round, with one vote taken for $40,000, another for $30,000 and two at $24,000.
“This is getting to be ridiculous,” said Councilman George Poe, who joined Vice Mayor Avery Johnson and Councilmen Charlie McKenzie and David May in passing the salary increase.
Councilmen Dale Hughes, Richard Banks and Bill Estes opposed the increase.
Hughes and Banks, however, did not oppose the increase in principle — both fought to get more money for the mayor.