Tax increase because of employee salaries/contracts?

Villas - Tax increase because of employee salaries/contracts? Who approves the contracts? It's our elected officials, council, mayors, etc. This excuse kills me every time I see it. Just look into the public records section of the Herald and you can see it for yourself. I don't understand why the taxpayers continue to vote the way they do. Has the average citizen seen an average salary increase of $5,000 a year over the past 10 years like many of the politically connected? It's time to think outside the box with your vote.