CORRECTION: The salary for the Natchez mayor was incorrectly reported. The Natchez mayor makes $69,800 a year. The number has been corrected in the story below.

NATCHEZ — In the event of large budget cuts, Natchez aldermen say they would consider lowering their salaries before looking into personnel layoffs.

Low sales tax revenues were reported for December and January, and city officials are expecting more low reports for the second quarter of the fiscal year.

In the first quarter of the fiscal year, the city spent $3.57 million of its $13.45 million, and if that much is spent in the remaining three quarters, the city will be over budget.

City officials have said it’s time to look at the budget and make cuts if necessary.

The salary for aldermen is $22,299.84, except for Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, who only gets $19,086.24 because she is part of the Public Employees Retirement System.

That means she can only make up to a certain amount of money due to the amount of retirement money she is drawing, Mathis said.

The Natchez aldermen are some of the highest paid aldermen in the state, according to the 2008 Municipal Salary and Benefits Survey.

This is an annual study conducted by the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University for the Mississippi Municipal League.

The 2009 survey has not yet been released.

For municipalities of comparable size, Brookhaven aldermen are paid $15,305; Laurel councilmen are paid $16,000; Ridgeland aldermen are paid $16,503; and McComb selectmen are paid $8,400.

For larger municipalities, Pascagoula pays its councilmen $16,000; Tupelo councilmen are paid $16,439; Greenville pays its councilmen $13,206; Hattiesburg pays $16,000; and Biloxi pays its councilmen $28,237.

The Natchez aldermen gave themselves a raise in 2006.

Prior to the raise, they were making $20,999.88, City Clerk Donnie Holloway said.

In 2002, they were making approximately $19,000, and in 1998, they were making $18,444, Holloway said.

Alderman Mark Fortenbery said he did not run for alderman to make money, and he would support a pay deduction.

“I would be in favor of that,” he said. “I know that’s what we should do. I think that’s nothing but fair.”

He said he would be happy receiving even half of what he is currently paid.

Alderman James “Ricky” Gray said he would much rather see his pay cut before any city personnel is laid off.

“If they need to deduct, I don’t have a problem with it,” he said.

“We’ve got numerous things we can do before we cut personnel. Everybody needs their job.”

He said he would be fine if the board decides it wants to go back to its pre-2006 salary raise of $20,999.88.

If so, the board would save $9,000 in aldermen salary annually.

Alderman Ernest “Tony” Fields said he would also be in favor if the salary was reverted back to what it was in 2006 — and that would just be a start.

“If I have to take a cut to make sure nobody gets laid off or something like that, I’d do that in a heartbeat,” Fields said.

Alderman Bob Pollard said he voted against the raise and he said he’s already given thought to a salary deduction.

“I’ll do whatever I have to,” he said.

Gray and Mayor Jake Middleton — who was an aldermen at the time — voted against the raise with Pollard.

Mathis and aldermen David Massey and Theodore “Bubber” West voted for the raise.

Former Mayor Phillip West broke the tie in favor of the raise.

Mathis said one way of cutting back on aldermen pay is to cut out a day of work, something former Mayor Hank Smith brought up during his administration.

Even though the aldermen pay is salaried, Mathis said the city could calculate what each aldermen makes per day and cut that much out of their salary.

She said that wouldn’t necessarily mean any alderman would work less.

“If we go to a four day work week and do Monday through Thursday, and if you have an obligation Friday, Saturday or Sunday — you’re going to be there,” Mathis said. “It doesn’t matter you decided you’re only going to get paid for four days.”

“I don’t want to see anybody laid off,” she said.

Middleton said pay deductions for the aldermen are one of many options to consider.

“I think that would be something that would have to be considered,” he said.

It’s the aldermen’s ultimate decision, he said. But he would support them if that is what they want to do.

Middleton said he would also consider cutting his yearly salary, as well. The mayor makes $69,800 a year.

“I would always consider anything,” he said.