Yes to pay raise; no to the auto allowance

Next term's pay increases for the Minneapolis City Council could come with the loss of a perk, under a committee proposal approved Monday.

The council's budget panel voted to end the controversial $400-per-month auto allowance that the council adopted in 2005 for the current term. The change, if approved by the full council, would mean members would have to file for mileage like most city employees.

All three newly elected council members said during their campaigns that they would not claim the allowance, and four of the 13 current council members have not taken the allowance or mileage. Three others claim well below the $400 monthly maximum.

Council Member Gary Schiff took the lead on killing the allowance. But neither he nor committee Chair Paul Ostrow would predict whether the change will survive a vote by the full council on Friday.

Supporters of the allowance, such as Council President Barbara Johnson, said recording mileage is too cumbersome. She and three council members collected $4,000 or more last year in auto allowances, while others pocketed lesser amounts.

"I do not think it is appropriate for the city budget to absorb commuting expenses for any employee of the city," said John Quincy, who will be sworn in as a council member in early January. He said he'll take only mileage, and then only for travel outside his ward.

Another incoming council member, Meg Tuthill, said she won't take the allowance or mileage, and intends to ride a bus to work as much as possible.

That would raise council members' pay by 2.5 percent, from $76,482 this year to $78,394 in 2010. The mayor's pay would rise from $100,481 to $102,993.

Under state law, the council must act on any pay increase for next term before the current term expires.