The chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana just got a $30,000 raise.

The tribal council voted 6-2 to raise the chairman's salary from $87,110 a year to $117,021. That's still less than some of the highest paid tribal employees but the boost has drawn criticism due to a potential budget shortfall.

"This should be an honor to serve the people," Catherine Addison told tribal leaders, The Char-Koosta News reported. "As a leader you have to make sacrifices for your people," Wilbert Michel said, according to the paper.

Chairman James Steele Jr. acknowledged the potential shortfall but said the tribe's finances are in good shape. He shot down rumors of layoffs of any employees.

"There haven't been layoffs, and there won't be any," Steele told The Missoulian.

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CSKT chairman defends raise, says tribes' finances are sound (The Missoulian 8/19)