The thirteen members of Edmonton’s City Council are up for a nearly four percent pay increase in 2015.

This year’s pay increase for City Council is 3.81 percent – meaning Mayor Don Iveson is eligible to receive $176,145, and members of council are eligible to receive $99,994 this year.

In 2014, the mayor was eligible for $169,681, and councilors could receive $96,323.

However, it’s still up to each member to decide whether or not they will take it, Councillor Dave Loken told CTV News he is.

“I’m taking it,” Loken said. “We work hard and we work long hours, if you want to break our wages down to an hourly wage it’s probably a lot less than what it says on paper.”

According to the City of Edmonton, salaries for members of City Council are adjusted as of the first pay period of each year.

Any changes to salaries are calculated using the percentage change in the 12 month average of the Alberta Weekly Earnings from September of the year before, against the same value for the previous year, and the final decision is from an independent committee.

“Because it’s all being done independently, council is not the ones putting their fingers in that,” Councillor Andrew Knack said. “That’s where I think the public would justifiably feel outraged.”

However, CUPE President Mike Scott thinks the increase is too much.

“We were asked to tighten our belts a bit, and we feel at this point, perhaps, they need some fiscal restraint themselves,” Scott said.

“One union guy speaks out and this becomes a big story, I’m not sure why,” Loken said.

“We make a lot of sacrifices, we sacrifice personal time, our families, a lot of things to do this work,” Loken continued. “Our union members do fine work as well, I don’t want to get into that kind of comparison.”

In addition to pay for councillors, one third of the salaries for members of council are tax exempt, and members receive a monthly vehicle allowance.

The Mayor receives $1158 per month, or has a choice of a city-owned vehicle, and councilors receive $578 per month – plus free parking downtown, and free transit passes.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith