By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

MOUNT HEALTHY - Council members and government officials in this Hamilton County city will get more money next year.

Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to raise the salaries of the mayor, council members, auditor and law director, with a plan to increase the treasurer's pay in 2006.

The raises will be between $933 and $4,174 a year and will be effective Jan. 1, 2004.

The decision was spurred in part by a lack of political interest in the community.

Ten candidates are running for eight Mount Healthy elective positions on the November ballot.

"We have to raise the fees to give people a choice," Mayor Ross Bittner told council in September during a first reading of the ordinance.

City officials say their pay is among the lowest for Hamilton County cities.

Not all council members voted for the increases. Carolyn Bryant voiced concern over the city's tight budget.

"These increases are more than North College Hill, which is a larger city than Mount Healthy," she said.

While Bittner said he understood Bryant's concerns, he said there has not been a good time in the last 10 years to increase the salaries.

The decision means the following increases:

• The mayor's salary from $7,222 to $11,000 a year.

• The law director's salary from $9,280 to $11,000 a year.

• The auditor's salary from $10,826 to $15,000 a year.

• The council president's salary from $2,267 to $3,200 a year.

• Council members salaries from $2,115 to $3,150.