With the City of Gaffney facing a nearly $400,000 shortfall in its proposed budget, councilman Wayne Ramsey said he will seek to repeal a controversial pay raise council members and the mayor voted for themselves last year.

The pay raise boosted each council member's salary more than $3,000 from $6,484 to $9,578. Mayor Henry Jolly's salary increased by $3,000 to $11,765. The raises go into effect after the August municipal election.

Council proposed the raises at their annual planning workshop last year.

Gaffney Administrator James Taylor said Monday the raises are funded in this year's budget. He said that raises for city employees have yet to be discussed.

"I don't think we should get the raises," Ramsey said. "If we are not going to give city employees a raise, why should we get a raise?"

Ramsey said he will ask his fellow council members to repeal the raises at the next budget session.

Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly said he favors keeping the raises.

"I think public officials are worth everything they get," he said. "I certainly think in my case with all the verbal and written abuse that I've had to take, that I and council are worth more than the anticipated raises."

"I'm certainly not running for office for the money," he added.

Jolly said the city employees have received annual pay raises since he's served as mayor. He also would favor a pay raise for employees in the proposed budget.

At Monday's budget workshop, Taylor said rising insurance, fuel, utility and debt service costs have resulted in about a $380,000 shortfall in the proposed budget.

Last year, council approved a 7.4 percent tax hike that raised the millage from 107.9 to 115.9. The increase meant that an owner of a $100,000 home paid $32 more in taxes this year.