The City Council today deferred any action on giving itself pay increases. In roughly 20 seconds, Council President Bill Linehan referred two raise-related orders to the Committee on Government Operations for hearings.

The committee will consider two proposals: One by Mayor Walsh for an almost 14% raise, to $99,500, one by Linehan for a 20% raise, to $105,000 a year.

After the committee, chaired by at-large Councilor Michael Flaherty, holds its hearing, it will make a recommendation to the entire council, which will then vote on a proposal for submission to the mayor, who can veto it.

If councilors do want a raise starting in January, they will have to act before their current terms end at the end of December - otherwise they risk violating state conflict-of-interest laws by directly voting themselves a raise, rather than approving a raise for a future council.