Philadelphia Mayor Collects Old Wages Before Retiring

December 25, 2007 4:32 p.m. EST

Philadelphia, PA (AHN) -- Outgoing Philadelphia mayor John Street is collecting more than $100,000 in pay raises that he refused to take while in office since 2003.

Street, who is due to leave office next month, has decided to retroactively collect salaries amounting to nearly $20,000 monthly since he vetoed a bill in 2003 that raised wages in the city. His veto was overturned by the City Council but he chose not to claim his wage increase.

Street, 64, is eligible to claim his benefits under Philadelphia's Deferred Retirement Option Program.

"He deferred it and held back on it," City Finance Director Vincent Jannetti is quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

Street, who is prevented from seeking a third mayoral term, served seven years as City Council president before being elected to mayor in January 2000. He has been involved in various corruptions scandals and was chosen by Time Magazine one of three worst big-city mayors in the U.S. in April 2005. He will be succeeded by Michael Nutter on January 7.