Native politicians who had been hoping to get a fast pay elevate 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 may bump salaries for native elected officers, saying she needs a fee to check the problem earlier than any raises can occur.
Julie Menin is sworn in as speaker of the New York Metropolis Council on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at Metropolis Corridor. (Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit)
However in a press convention shortly after she was elected speaker Wednesday, Menin mentioned it’s not applicable to award raises earlier than a fee can examine the problem after which current suggestions for wage ranges that the Council might vote on.
“That is the way that it has always been done, is through the commission, as opposed to members voting on a bill that raises it directly,” Menin mentioned.
A fee is by regulation purported 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 as a result of pandemic, and ex-Mayor Eric Adams, with out clarification, 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 steered 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 “address this issue in a timely manner.”
“I think her approach is reasonable and would ensure independent experts fairly determine the salaries of elected officials,” he mentioned.
The timeline for a fee examine wasn’t instantly clear, however Menin mentioned she had conveyed on to Mayor Mamdani that she favors that method.
A Mamdani spokeswoman didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
Council members presently 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.
