But the city gives councilors other benefits such as health insurance, $157-a-month stipends and the possibility of lifelong pension checks as part-time city employees.

Compared to private sector jobs, those are generous benefits for part-time positions.

"I'd say they are pretty good (benefits), better than average," said Rickey Silverman, managing director of Silverman and Associates, a Plaistow, N.H., firm that does career counseling.

Of nine city councilors, five get health insurance benefits, said Mary Carrington, the city personnel director.

Eight are enrolled in the city or state pension program.

The City Council will vote Nov. 14 on its pay boost, which would go into effect in 2008. The council president would see an increase to $18,000 from $9,500.

Councilor Krystine Hetel, who worked from 1994 to 2001 as director of the area's tobacco education program - time that counts toward a government pension - was elected to the council for the first time last year.

"I just have to tell you, it's a lot more work than I thought it would be," she said of being a city councilor. Many councilors say they work 30 or more hours a week.

Hetel's years as a councilor will count toward her pension, and she takes advantage of the city's health insurance. Hetel supports the higher salary and generous benefits, saying that the perks may entice young parents to run for City Council.

"Personally, I hope this gets more young people into the race," she said.

Councilors have had a variety of government jobs that add up to more than 140 years of service.

John Curtin and David Hall were in law enforcement, retiring from the State Police and Haverhill Police Department, respectively, before joining the council.

Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O'Brien has accumulated 16 years of government experience, a combination of her employment at the former city-owned Hale Hospital and her years as a councilor.

Councilor William Ryan is collecting a pension for 28 years of work as a former mayor, state representative and Essex County jail supervisor.

Curtin retired from the State Police at age 44 after 20 years and collects a state pension and health benefits. He will not support a pay raise for councilors and will not enroll in the city's pension system.

"I'm saving the city quite a few bucks that way," he said. By choice, he will not collect a pension on the 10 years he served as a councilor because he applied for a state pension.

Councilors can serve just three terms and enjoy a small pension and health insurance for the rest of their lives after retirement, said Kathleen Gallant, the city's Retirement Board administrator.

A 55-year-old who served 10 years on the City Council would make $100 a month under the current salary of $8,000, she said.

If the city council boosts their salary to $15,000, the monthly pension for that same person would be $187.

Pensions are calculated by a formula that computes the retirees age at the time of retirement, the employee's highest salary for three consecutive years and the total years of service.

Hall, a retired police sergeant, is paid about $41,000 a year for his 38 years of service, he said. He is opposed to the pay increase, despite working about 40 hours a week for $8,000.

"The city has treated me so well for all these years," Hall said. "They provided me a good living. This is my way of saying 'thank you.'"

Health insurance is enjoyed by five councilors.

Councilors pay 25 percent of their health insurance costs, or $109 a month for an individual under one plan. A family plan costs $293 a month. Carrington would not say which of the five councilors get health insurance.

Silverman, the Plaistow career counselor, said that he doubts that most part-time jobs offer such good health benefits.

"A lot of people bringing in $8,000 a year are not offered any benefits at all," he said.

Building a pension

Haverhill's city councilors have about 140 years of government job experience. Here is a list of their various jobs:

John Curtin: Collects pension as a retired State Police trooper after 20 years, and has been a councilor 10 years.

David Hall: Gets a pension of about $41,000 annually for 38 years as a police sergeant.

Michael Hart: City solicitor from 1988 to 1994, and city councilor since 2002, for 10 years of government work.

Krystine Hetel: Worked for the city in 1994 until 2001 before being elected to the council this year.

William Macek: City councilor from 1984 until 1991, then re-elected in 2004, for 10 years of service.

Mary Ellen Daly O'Brien: Enrolled in the city pension system since 1990 at the former Hale Hospital. When the hospital privatized, she continued in the system as a city councilor.

William Ryan: Collecting a pension for 28 years of work as a former mayor, state representative and Essex County jail supervisor.

Robert Scatamacchia: Elected in 2004.

David Swartz: Is not enrolled in the pension system.

Source: Kathleen Gallant, Haverhill Retirement Board administrator.