VIDALIA — The Vidalia mayor attempted to file an ordinance Tuesday to set salaries for some town workers as state law requires; but aldermen stopped the action to seek more information.

Mayor Buz Craft brought the issue forward following the Town of Ferriday’s recent investigative audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office.

In that investigation Ferriday was cited for not having an ordinance filed that set the salaries of the town clerk, mayor, aldermen and police chief.

Craft said Vidalia is also out of compliance with this requirement.

“The town (Vidalia) was just out of compliance because it didn’t do the rest of its paperwork,” Craft said. “This is just us doing the paperwork to put us in compliance with the budget act.”

Alderman Jon Betts made a motion to pre-file the salary ordinance, but his motion died for a lack of a second.

When Craft asked what it would take to get aldermen support, Alderwoman Sabrina Doré suggested a 5-year history of the salaries so aldermen could have historical data.

“A lot of us were not here previously to know what the salaries were,” Doré said. “What were they prior to us coming into office?”

Alderman Robert Gardner suggested 10 years of historical data, and Doré said she agreed with that.

Aldermen now make $8,428, the mayor makes $82,931, the police chief $72,406 and the town clerk $75,490, said town accountant Debra Moak.

“We can get the information, but it doesn’t change anything,” Craft said. “We are just trying to get in compliance with the budget act.”