Native politicians who have been hoping to get a fast pay increase this 12 months could also be in for a impolite awakening.
Newly minted Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin affirmed Wednesday she doesn’t intend to permit a invoice to instantly advance that will bump salaries for native elected officers, saying she needs a fee to check the problem earlier than any raises can occur.
The invoice, whose introduction late final 12 months was first reported by the Day by day Information, would give Council members, the mayor, the general public advocate, the comptroller and different native elected leaders 16% raises. Queens Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, the invoice’s sponsor, secured a listening to on it in December with the hope of with the ability to advance it to a vote early this month, arguing the transfer is lengthy overdue as native elected officers haven’t gotten raises in a decade.
However in a press convention shortly after she was elected speaker Wednesday, Menin stated it’s not acceptable to award raises earlier than a fee can research the problem and current suggestions for wage ranges that the Council might then vote on.
“That’s the manner that it has at all times been completed, is thru the fee, versus members voting on a invoice that raises it immediately,” Menin stated.
Requested if meaning Williams’ measure is lifeless, Menin informed The Information: “We’re going to be doing one thing via the fee, in order that’s what we’re going to give attention to.”
A fee is by legislation speculated to be convened each 4 years to evaluate whether or not raises for native politicians are warranted. However ex-Mayor Invoice de Blasio didn’t convene one in 2020 because of the pandemic, and ex-Mayor Eric Adams, with out rationalization, didn’t convene one in 2024, both, prompting Williams and different invoice supporters to press for going straight to a vote.
Williams didn’t instantly return a request for remark late Wednesday.
Throughout final month’s listening to on the invoice, Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler urged there was no want for a fee, given the prolonged interval with out raises.
Late Wednesday, although, Restler voiced help for Menin’s plan, saying it might “tackle this concern in a well timed method.”
“I believe her strategy is affordable and would guarantee unbiased consultants pretty decide the salaries of elected officers,” he stated.
The timeline for a fee research wasn’t instantly clear, however Menin stated she had conveyed on to Mayor Mamdani that she favors that strategy.
A Mamdani spokeswoman didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
Council members at present make about $148,000 yearly, whereas the mayor makes about $258,000. The general public advocate pulls in about $184,000 and the comptroller earns roughly $210,000. Borough presidents, who’re additionally anticipated to be impacted by any raises enacted by the Council, make round $180,000 per 12 months.
The hope from Williams had initially been to maneuver to a vote on her invoice in late 2025 whereas Adrienne Adams was nonetheless Council speaker. However the Council ditched these plans after it grew to become clear such a vote would violate guidelines towards enacting pay raises for native politicians within the so-called lame duck interval in an election 12 months.
