Memphis mayor Jim Strickland is paying some of his top aides big six figure salaries.
While city council members debated giving these raises, one retired firefighter is looking at his check.
After paying for insurance, his mortgage and other deductions, his take home check every two weeks is exactly $7.58.
His name is George Thomas Edwards, and every two weeks he gets a check from the city that is not enough to buy a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a gallon of milk.
Edwards joined the Memphis Fire Department in 1983. He ended up as a paramedic and working in some of the city's busiest areas.
"I rode the ambulances as a paramedic for 18 years. And when I rode the ambulance, its not like for these young guys on the job now. They ride 12 and 12. We rode 24 hours a day,” Edwards said.
12 and 12 means 12 hours on the streets and 12 off. He worked 24 hour shifts.
Hauling people as a paramedic took its toll. Edwards had heart troubles, asthma, high blood pressure, and two knee transplants.
He is now retired.
"What came out of my check is federal taxes, my AFLAC insurance for my cancer, intensive care, all that insurance. Money I have for the credit union to pay my house note which I've been paying forever," Edwards said.