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Raises for Buffalo elected officials appear likely

The question now appears just how much to pay school board members.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Pay raises for Buffalo elected officials and school board members appear likely to happen.

The question now appears just how much to pay school board members.

A majority of Buffalo Common Council members appear to support the pay increases.

This comes just one week after Buffalo's Citizens Salary Review Commission recommended a pay increase for the mayor, comptroller, council members, and school board members.

Under the proposal, the mayor would make $158,500, roughly a 50 percent pay raise.

Council members would make $75,000 and Buffalo school board members would get a stipend of $10,000, currently, it's $5,000. 

But, some council members and school board members say that's still not enough and that school board members should make between $15,000 and $25,000 annually to cover expenses. 

REPORTER: Does it look like there's anything to prevent these salary increases from going through?

"I think that if we can't come to a number as far as the school board goes can agree to a number and that potentially could hold it up," said Buffalo Common Council Member Rich Fontana.

The last time city elected officials got raises was in 1998. The salary review commission looked at cities of similar size to Buffalo.

And found that Rochester school board members earn $27,000 a year, that is the highest annual pay of any city school board the commission looked at. 

We've heard from many people, especially on social media, that elected officials already make enough money and that they knew what the pay was when they ran for office. 

Mayor Byron Brown supports the pay increases and many of the elected officials believe higher pay will result in more candidates running.

Common Council needs to vote on the proposed raises by mid-June. 

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