After failing to gain the Board of Aldermen’s unanimous approval on Monday, a bill that calls on New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. to forgo part of his salary has been referred to a committee for further consideration.

The bill, sponsored by Aldermen Willie Greene and Nathan Joyner, suggests DeStefano give up the $12,397 raise he began receiving on Jan. 1 — at least until the city resolves any budget problems.

Defending his proposal on Monday, Greene said he supported the mayor’s pay raise in December but now feels DeStefano should not begin drawing the extra money as a sign of support for city employees, who will presumably bear the burden of any budget cuts.

New Haven is expected to experience some sort of budget crunch over the course of the next fiscal year. DeStefano has been battling Gov. John Rowland and the state Legislature over several large cuts in state aid to the city, and the mayor even called a press conference last month to announce a three-year “stabilization plan” designed to make sure the city does not fall victim to a fiscal crisis.

DeStefano’s plan will allow the city to absorb its drop in revenue from the state through early retirement buyouts and cuts in employee health care benefits.

–James Collins