NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton’s salary is $69,799.92. It was incorrectly reported in a Wednesday article.

In his department, he has two other employees — a secretary and an administrative assistant.

Their salaries combined are $49,148.08.

The mayor’s salary, along with the other two employees, is a combined $118,948.

With city officials considering tightening up the budget, the Natchez aldermen have said they would consider cutting their salaries — which are a combined $130,585 a year for all six — before they would lay off any city employees.

Middleton also said he would consider cutting his salary before restorting to layoffs.

The aldermen received raises in 2006, bumping up their salaries from $20,999.88 to $22,299.84.

Only Alderwoman Joyce-Arceneaux-Mathis makes less — $19,086.24 — because she is part of the Public Employees Retirement System, which requires she only make a certain amount of money.

While the aldermen recently upped their pay, the mayor has not had a salary increase in 11 years.

In 1998, the mayor’s salary was raised from $63,000 to its current amount.

A mayor’s raise — like any other elected official — would have to go before the board of aldermen and receive a majority vote, City Clerk Donnie Holloway said.