Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft says the metropolis’s rising payroll, boasting greater than 500 staff who earned greater than $300,000 final 12 months, is the “latest example” that extra fiscal duty is required at Metropolis Corridor.
Eight metropolis staff, largely law enforcement officials who added to their gross pay with time beyond regulation and particulars, raked in a minimum of $500,000 on the 2024 payroll, which elevated by 2.28% from the $2.14 billion in 2023.
Kraft, son of the billionaire New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, is reacting sharply to the town’s payroll posted on-line on the shut of Friday.
“The primary job of the Mayor is responsible stewardship of public resources,” Kraft mentioned in a press release shared with the Herald on Saturday. “The explosion in city salaries under Mayor Wu shows that it is just not believable to say there isn’t a penny of savings to be found in the city budget.”
“Clearly,” he added, “fiscal responsibility and prudent use of taxpayer resources under this mayor are an afterthought — not a priority — and this is just the latest example.”
Mayor Michelle Wu earned $207,000 with no time beyond regulation or different pay.
A spokesperson for the mayor didn’t present a press release from Wu by presstime Saturday night.
The 2024 payroll reveals that 78 others earned $400,000 or extra; 435 metropolis staff pulled down $300,000-plus; 1,810 banked $200,000 and up; and, 8,384 clocked in at $100,000 or extra.
The typical wage for metropolis staff was $105,034 in 2024, a giant bounce over the prior 12 months when staff have been paid $74,330 on common, payroll information present.
Many metropolis worker salaries balloon considerably with “gross pay,” which incorporates whopping time beyond regulation topping out at $223,773 for one police officer.
Kraft, president of the household’s philanthropic arm, the New England Patriots Basis, launched his marketing campaign for mayor of Boston in early February, calling for lease management, a lift to reasonably priced housing growth and a pause on the town’s controversial White Stadium mission.
Working as a Democrat, Kraft is vying to unseat Wu, a well-liked progressive searching for re-election.
The Wu administration created 54 new positions final 12 months as a part of an effort that has introduced in 301 new titles throughout the mayor’s first time. These new staff are paid $84,781 on common, the Herald beforehand reported.
“These positions represent important investments that have been carefully analyzed through the city’s budget process,” Wu wrote in a letter to the Metropolis Council in January, “and deliver key improvements in core key operations and services that our constituents depend on.”
The primary ballot in Boston’s mayoral race, issued by Emerson Faculty final week, confirmed Wu within the lead, topping Kraft, 43-29.
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