No McCrory vote on '08 pay raise

Pat McCrory did not cast a vote on his own pay raise this year.

As mayor of Charlotte, the Republican gubernatorial nominee does not vote on City Council decisions such as the annual budget, but he can veto them.

This year, the City Council narrowly approved a $1.8 billion budget that included boosting pay for City Council members from $23,463 to $29,900 — about a 27 percent increase. It also included a $4,000 car allowance that backers said would offset rising gas prices.

The budget also boosted McCrory's annual salary by 19 percent to $39,900.

McCrory did not veto the budget, which passed 6-5.

If he had, it would have taken seven votes from the 11-member council to override his veto, meaning it would have been sustained unless a council member switched sides.

There is no record in the City Council minutes or in newspaper articles giving McCrory's position on the pay raises either for or against.

A recent ad by a Democratic group attacked McCrory over the pay raises.