Some Calgary city councillors evidently didn’t realize they were getting a raise on Jan. 1.

It’s clueless not to know that, and far worse to take the money once they did know.

Several councillors said they would donate their raise of 2.4 per cent, or $2,841 a year.

Of course, those councillors will be donating public money — and getting a personal tax receipt.

For many Calgarians, $2,841 is a mortgage payment or monthly rent for a good residence.

Homeowners face a 7.8 per cent property tax increase, the highest in memory amid the worst inflationary pressure since the 1970s.

It takes truly thoughtless, callous politicians to impose a tax hike like that, and then give themselves a raise.

Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said they weren’t aware of the raise until the year-end break, and thus didn’t have a chance to discuss it.

But they were discussing the raise at the very meeting where he said that. Chief administrator David Duckworth said reversal was possible.

Council didn’t show any interest in refusing their raise, only in decrying it. That’s on the far frontier of hypocrisy.

Coun. Courtney Walcott said they deserve the raise and should just keep it.

He talks like an employee who finally got a break from the boss.

But in this job he........

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