Politicians should take a lesson from this honorable man.
Politicians all the way up to presidents should follow his example.
Think they will?

Mayor takes $90,000 pay cut to help struggling Mississippi city
By April Williams, CNN
September 1, 2010 5:31 a.m. EDT

Biloxi, Mississippi, Mayor A.J. Holloway will earn $27,000 a year after his own pay cut.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* The cut is 80 percent of the mayor's pay
* "I just thought it was the right thing to do," A.J. Holloway says

(CNN) -- The city of Biloxi, Mississippi, is in a financial rut. Its sales and gaming taxes have been sliding for two years. So the mayor is voluntarily taking a $90,000 pay cut and will supplement his income with retirement money.

"I just thought it was the right thing to do," said Mayor A.J. Holloway, who will earn $27,000 a year after the cut.

The nationwide economic gloom has affected Biloxi, which was a tourist hot spot before Hurricane Katrina ripped waterfront properties apart in 2005.

"We lost a lot of our businesses along Highway 90," Holloway said.

Many of those businesses decided not to rebuild along the scenic "Beach Boulevard" and relocated to other cities, far from the threat of a storm surge. The moves left the town struggling economically.

Holloway proposed ideas on ways to reduce the budget, including new taxes. The city pays 100 percent of its employees' health benefits, in addition to coverage for dependents. The mayor suggested having the employees foot part of the bill for dependents.

City council officials voted against both ideas.

The city took out a loan with a $6 million line of credit just to meet payrolls. Biloxi subsidizes a regional airport about $115,000 a year, but can no longer do that. The same goes for various health agencies and nonprofits.

Holloway said he will likely have to order furloughs for city employees.

Meanwhile, the mayor is willing to put his money where his mouth is with an 80 percent pay cut that will free up thousands for the city budget. The city council is reviewing the budget proposals this month.

If the budget is approved, he plans to keep his old schedule despite the new pay.

"Frankly, I enjoy the work," Holloway said. "And we have a great deal more to accomplish. I could go for another six to eight years."

And, the mayor says, the pay cut is not part of a re-election strategy.

"I'm in my second year of my fifth term, so I have nearly three more years before I would be running for re-election," he said.

Despite the gloomy economic outlook, there are a few bright spots for Biloxi. The city was not affected by the oil spill that left millions of barrels of crude gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

"We got some tar patties and some tar balls in spots," Holloway said.

But Biloxi never had to close its beaches.

his actions are beyond commendable,,its good he has retirement to fall on and no family to support and a job that governs 50,000 constituents whose average earnings are about 27,000

he is living on an honorable and manageable wage,,,

he is a good guy... to bad the rest of the city council are azzwipes...

Biloxi Jobs - Overall Outlook for Surrounding Area

According to the most recent government statistics, there are 87,352Biloxi jobs. Jobs in Biloxi's Private Sector make up the majority of employment with 69,128 jobs in the Biloxi, MS surrounding area (Harrison County). This accounts for 79.14% of the Biloxi jobs market. The rest of the market comprises Local Government employment totaling 9,934 jobs, which is 11.37% of the Biloxi workforce. State Government and Federal Government make up 1,747 (2%) and 6,543 (7.49%) Biloxi jobs respectively.

To get an idea of the opportunity, there are 4,510 employers in Biloxi. The Private Sector includes 4,379 firms, which make up 97.1% of companies hiring in Biloxi. In other sectors, 43Local Government employers (0.95%), 30State Government employers (0.67%), and 58Federal Government employers (1.29%) hire workers in the Biloxi vicinity.

The average weekly wage in Biloxi, MS is $643, which translates to $33,436 annually. Private Sector wages are $600 per week or roughly $31,200 per year, on average. Local Government wages are $690 per week or $35,880 per year. State Government wages are $645 per week or $33,540 per year. Federal Government wages are $1,021 per week or $53,092 per year.
Biloxi Jobs - Industry & Sector Outlook

Of the Biloxi, MS jobs available in the Private Sector, 58,718 (67.22%) are in the Service Providing industry and 10,410 (11.92%) are in the Goods Producing industry. As far as establishments are concerned, 3,651Biloxi employers (4.18%) do business in the Service Providing industry and 728 (0.83%) operate in the Goods Producing industry.

The top Service Providing industry jobs in Biloxi include Leisure and Hospitality; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Professional and Business Services careers. Expect Goods Producing industry jobs in Biloxi to include Construction and Manufacturing.

Zeroing in on specific industries, Biloxi jobs in the Leisure and Hospitality industry include 21,245 positions (24.32%); 424 employers (0.49%) and average weekly wages of $457 ($23,764 annualized salary). Trade, Transportation, and Utilities careers in Biloxi, MS include 15,787 jobs (18.07%); 1,102 employers (1.26%); and average weekly salaries of $575 per week or $29,900 per year. Professional and Business Services jobs include 8,565Biloxi employees (9.81%); 700 employers (0.8%); and weekly average salaries of $617 or $32,084 per year. For those seeking Construction jobs in Biloxi, expect to see 5,783 positions (6.62%) from 585 employers (0.67%) and average salaries of $753 per week or $39,156 per year. In addition, Biloxi, MSManufacturing occupations include 4,618 jobs (5.29%) in 135 companies (0.15%) with average salaries of $867 per week or $45,084 per year.

Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Q3 2007.

Can't live from the beach to the tracks on most southern wages.
But, most folks prefer the hospitality of North of the tracks anyways.

The Governor of California has been doing the same thing for years. He has never taken a salary and uses his own resources for state travel. He pay for ALL of his travel, hotel, food etc. out of his own pocket and doesnt seek ANY reimbursment.

I don't see people bringing this up at all, oh wait hes a Republican so of course they wont.

Just knew some way some how someone would bring Repub or Demo........someone could have written it saying the Governor of Cali does this too we should praise him as well and then maybe someone else could say I heard tell this one doesn't get healthcare over here whatever so forth and so on........names and valiancy not valiancy and affiliations

the govenator is rich too...

Somehow I can't equate Ahnoldt's noble gesture to the definitely quantifiable economic sacrifice the Mayor of Biloxi is making. Ahnoldt not only has his 'Action Jackson' movie money, but he's married to a Kennedy - he'll never worry about bein' a po' boy ... the Mayor of Biloxi, on the other hand, is making more than a symbolic publicity gesture - He'll actually feel some PAIN as a result of his decision - Ahnoldt never will.

I don't have a clue if the Mayor is Repub or Dem.

If I were to guess, I'd guess he was Dem. Most Southern rich folks with slaveholder roots are.

But, givin' up 80%, he just might actually care about Biloxi

Because history has shown that MANY Republicans have not taken a salary or reduced their salary and paid their own expenses when they could afford to.

and? your their caped crusader going to point every praise you can for your affiliation......dont think anyone was trying to point out any affliation with this one just a simple human act of suprisingly enough a politician.......who cares his affiliation...and I agree marrying into the Kennedy family did not leave the man penniless ever......not his stint in Hollywood