Ascension Parish, La (NBC33) — Ascension Parish Council Members say if they get a pay raise this year, they'll donate this year's increase to charity.

Council Members say they introduced the increase on a 7-3 vote Thursday.

They say it's been 15 years since Councilmembers got a raise.

It still has to be decided at a public hearing and a future council meeting.

Councilwoman Terri Casso signed a pledge with six of the other eleven Council members to even donate the first year's increase of about 35-hundred dollars to charity.

Residents in the Parish have mixed reactions on the pay raise.

"I don't have a problem if the give themselves a pay raise, only if they're doing something productive in the city of Donaldsonville," said Letecia Lewis.

"If they're gonna do something like that, add a 33 percent raise, maybe they should consider taking half, and giving it to the city workers as well," said Paul Anderson.

"I think it would be a good thing, those guys haven't had a raise in I don't know how long," said Prince Davis.