The city's top officials are scheduled to vote on automatic pay raises for themselves tomorrow — the same day that Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake is slated to unveil a grim budget that includes deep cuts to city services.

But the mayor, Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Comptroller Joan Pratt said they plan to decline the raises and to have the money deducted from their pay checks and returned to the city's general fund.

"Because of the economic and financial difficulties that we're facing in the city of Baltimore, I think it's only right that we give it back," said Young.

A series of annual pay increases was suggested by the Compensation Commission for Elected Officials in 2007 and approved by the council. The raises are triggered when one or more city unions receive a pay increase.

Last year, city leaders drew criticism after the raises appeared on the city spending board's agenda described only by job codes, not position titles.

As part of an effort to increase transparency, the pay increases were clearly identified in the agenda this year, said Ryan O'Doherty, a spokesman for Rawlings-Blake.

The mayor's raise, which would increase her salary by $3,700 to $155,500, will be deducted from her bi-weekly pay checks and returned to the general fund, he said.

The raises to the council president and comptroller's salaries would increase their pay by $2,500 to $103,000. Pay hikes are also slated for Council Vice President Edward Reisinger and the other council members.

Young said he urged the other council members to decline the pay increases as well.

Pratt said that she had donated her raise to various nonprofits last year, but decided to contribute it to the general fund this year.

"Since the city is facing this financial crisis, it makes more sense for me to give it back to the city," she said.