The mayor of a Salt Lake City suburb has approved a $15,000 raise for himself just weeks after taking office.
The 10 percent pay raise takes Sandy Mayor Kurt Bradburn's salary up to $162,000 a year, more than mayors in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo make.
Bradburn says he has earned his salary since he does more work than his predecessor.
He says he answers his own text messages, manages his own calendar and lobbies for his city at the state Capitol in person.
Bradburn says despite his pay raise, he is still at or below the budget set by city council.
He has cut two positions in his office, increasing the workload for himself and his aides and their salaries.
He says he has trimmed office spending by nearly $20,000.
