NORWICH – The tentative City of Norwich Budget for 2008 proposed a 4.97 tax increase, and while that number doesn’t seem too hard to swallow, some people are having more difficulty with potential salary increases for the mayor and Common Council, which will not be determined until long after the budget is passed.

On Tuesday night, the City of Norwich Common Council discussed the tentative budget for 2008. First Ward Alderman Anthony Abraham questioned several lines on the budget, including those for the Common Council and mayor’s salary. The budget showed the cumulative council salary increasing by more than 50 percent, and the salary for the mayor increasing by over 70 percent.

In a later discussion, Mayor Joseph Maiurano explained that the salary changes may not be as drastic as they seem.

“First of all, there has been no raise for the aldermen or the mayor in 17 years,” Maiurano said. “That should be looked at.” Maiurano explained that although the funds had been listed in the budget, that did not mean that the raises were imminent. He explained that it would most likely be several months before any action was taken, and at that time, it would be determined after going through the finance and personnel committee as well as the Common Council. A public hearing would also have to be held.