A debate is brewing in Morristown on whether the part-time mayor should get a significant pay hike.

The town?s $35 million budget proposal includes increases for the police department, the fire department and other municipal agencies. It also includes a $12,000 increase to Mayor Donald Cresitello?s $26,000 a year part-time salary. If approved, Cresitello would be the highest-paid part-time mayor in Morris County.

Some feel Cresitello doesn?t deserve the pay raise. They say serving as mayor is only his part-time job and he has a full-time job elsewhere. Others feel Cresitello is an important person in the town and he deserves to be paid well.

This is the mayor?s second attempt at a raise. In November, voters shot down a 100 percent increase that would have paid Cresitello $52,000 a year.

Though the mayor?s raise is in the budget, the Town Council still needs to pass a new salary ordinance for it to take effect. The Council members would pass the ordinance at their own discretion.