City Council Members Aim for Salary Increase
During a public hearing on Tuesday, a government oversight group challenged City Council members over their attempt to quietly approve a pay raise just before the end of their term.
The proposed 16 percent increase was criticized for bypassing the city charter’s rules against salary hikes during lame duck sessions, according to Citizens United Executive Director Grace Lau.
“The method you’re contemplating undermines public confidence and sets a concerning standard,” she remarked.
This hearing may use a legal loophole to determine if the City Council’s salary could be raised for 2026, which might be one of Zoran Mamdani’s initial decisions after becoming mayor.
For nearly ten years, salaries for City Council members have been stagnant at $148,500, leading to growing dissatisfaction among those elected officials, especially as they observe pay increases for other city workers.
A bill proposed by City Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D-Queens) seeks to elevate their salaries to $172,500. If approved, the bill would also boost wages for mayors, civic leaders, and borough presidents.
This situation could place Mr. Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist advocating for affordability for the working class, in a difficult position. He may face a decision to raise his salary from $258,750 to $300,500 shortly after taking office, risking a rift with the City Council if he chooses to veto the bill.
Both Lau and Samantha Sanchez from the watchdog group Common Cause argued that while compensation should reflect the increasing cost of living, the councilors should have awaited the convening of a “compensation committee” by Mamdani to make objective recommendations.
“This method upholds independent assessment, aligns with longstanding practices, and guarantees that pay decisions are made through a verifiable process,” Sanchez noted.
Lau pointed out that councilors might find alternative ways to sidestep Mamdani, such as changing the law to let another elected official designate the pay committee.
Initially, Williams aimed to fast-track the bill before Mamdani took over but had to reconsider when it was highlighted that law prohibits salary votes during the post-election lame-duck phase.
She mentioned that establishing a committee by itself would require additional time.
“I really want to stress that while I’m a firm believer in democracy, acting thoughtfully within a democratic framework can often be quite challenging and time-consuming,” she said.
“I completely get that, and I realize that increasing fees plays a role in people’s experiences. But regardless of how prices rise, the public generally reacts with frustration.”
Chairing the hearing, Councilman Lincoln Ressler (D-Brooklyn) seemed to anticipate criticism by taking aim at Mayor Eric Adams, noting that Adams had independently signed a directive providing retroactive salary raises to all managerial positions in 2024.
“These are his political appointees,” Ressler stated. “Do you think it’s proper for the mayor to award $2 billion in salary raises to his political picks with considerably less scrutiny than what we’re seeing here today?”
