Should Lockhart’s mayor and town council be paid for their service to the town?

Mayor Ailene Ashe thinks so — she’s proposed a $400 a month salary for herself and $50 a month for each of the town’s four council members or $7,200 annually.

If approved, the salaries would not take effect until after the town’s budget is approved in June, but only if the town can afford it.

Lockhart’s mayor and council members serve without pay.

Mrs. Ashe said she would use the money to help defray the cost of paying someone to look after her husband while she is tending to the town’s business.

“If we can’t afford it, that’s fine,” she said. “That will not take away one bit from my support and care of my job as mayor.”

Council members are divided over the salary proposal.

Robert “Greasy” Lawson and his wife, Nancy, oppose it, saying the town can’t afford to pay the salaries.

“I think when you run and you know you won’t get paid, you’re doing it for the good of the community,” Mrs. Lawson said.

Connie Porter said she advised Mrs. Ashe to see what other towns Lockhart’s size pay their mayors and council members. Although she has not made up her mind whether to support the salary proposal, she said Mrs. Ashe works at the town hall as well as at her home taking care of the town’s business.

Lockhart has few revenue sources, other than its water and sewer fees and some rent from houses Milliken & Co. gave the town. With our nation and our state facing an economic crisis, this is the wrong time for an elected official to propose spending more money, especially in a small town like Lockhart.