Warren residents rescind pay raises for officials

WARREN Voters in the city sent a message in Tuesday s general election that they are against automatic pay raises for Warren officials. Unofficial and incomplete results on Tuesday had 72% of the voters supporting a ballot issue to repeal the raises, eliminate the automatic escalators and reform the system so that voters have the final say. The ballot initiative that voters decided on would see the huge pay raises for council members repealed and salaries set at $16,500 per year. The initiative also sets fixed salaries for the mayor, law director, auditor and treasurer. Any future increases will require voter approval. Former Warren at-Large councilman Ken MacPherson said he was surprised the percent who voted to repeal the raises wasn t closer to 90%. He said the outrageous amounts and the automatic pay increases struck taxpayers the wrong way. MacPherson said during his time on council and before leaving in 2023, he was against the pay raise legislation when it was passed. It has