The executive director of the Justice and Transparency Foundation (FJT), Angel Reyes says that Santiago city councilors will be violating the Constitution if they order a wage increase before handing over to the new administration. Recent news reports indicate that the board of councilors is planning to raise their own wages before the changeover on 16 August 2016. Reyes said the measure should only go into effect to benefit the new members, and not the outgoing councilors. He says that Article 140 of the Constitution establishes that no public institution, whether centralized or autonomous, which manages public funds may establish rules to increase their own wages or benefits during their terms. Reyes said the FJT would be alert and will take the case to court.
Meanwhile, outgoing mayor Gilberto Serulle denied any involvement with the councilors’ proposal to increase his wage from RD$260,000 to RD$450,000 a month and that of the councilors from RD$130,000 to RD$220,000. The new wage level would then be applied to their pension plans. The proposal was sent for study by councilor Candido Alvarez of the Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP).
Juan Carlos Liz, chairman of the board of councilors, says the proposal has the support of the PLD party councilors.
El Caribe reporters point out that the Santiago city government is currently operating with its budget in the red with debts of more than RD$600 million to garbage collection companies. The last wage increase for the councilors was applied in 2011, when their wages were raised from RD$70,000 to RD$130,000. In the past, the councilor position was voluntary.
