Council salary increases must be approved before Election Day.

In recent developments, the New York City Council is poised to consider a proposal for a pay increase for its members in the final weeks of its term, which concludes on December 31. This move has raised legal and ethical questions regarding its timing and implications. According to the City Charter, specifically Section 27, any local law concerning salary adjustments for elected officials cannot be enacted between the general election and the end of the calendar year, when all council members have been elected. This provision aims to prevent self-serving practices often seen in political maneuvers, where lawmakers approve salary increases that take effect after the election.

Queens Councilwoman Nantasha Williams has introduced legislation that seeks to raise the current council salary of 8,500 by ,000, or approximately 16%, bringing the total to 2,500. While the financial increase is significant, critics argue that the timing of such a proposal is inappropriate. Transitioning to a new council and a new speaker in January casts doubt on the morality of passing a pay raise under the current legislature.

Scrutiny also falls upon the candidates vying for the speakership, including Selvena Brooks-Powers, Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Chris Marte, and Julie Menin. Their positions on Williams’ bill, and whether they endorse a pay raise for the next council, remain to be clarified. Additionally, any incoming mayor, including Zohran Mamdani, who campaigned on issues of affordability, may face public backlash if perceived as endorsing a pay increase for politicians rather than focusing on broader economic challenges.

The proposed bill had not been formally introduced at the time of this report, but it is scheduled for submission soon. Advocates for transparent governance are awaiting the names of those who support this controversial initiative, emphasizing the potential violation of the City Charter.

The last salary adjustment for elected officials occurred in 2016, following the recommendations from the Quadrennial Advisory Commission for the Review of Compensation Levels of Elected Officials. The commission’s findings were generally adopted, save for an additional increase to council members and the speaker’s salaries, which were set at 8,500 and 4,500, respectively.

The Quadrennial Commission was slated to reconvene in January 2020, but this meeting did not take place, nor was it scheduled for January 2024. The next opportunity for review will be January 2028, highlighting the need for adherence to existing protocols concerning public official compensation. As the city approaches these crucial discussions, it is imperative for future governance structures to amend the charter and ensure that any salary increases only take effect after elections, thereby safeguarding against conflicts of interest in public service.

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