New York City elected officials now have cover to give themselves 18.2% raises after a commission released a report recommending that they do so.
If taken up and approved by the City Council, it would be a big boost for city leaders – higher even than the 16% raise initially proposed by the legislative body last year. Mayor Zohran Mamdani theoretically would start making $305,800 instead of the current $258,750 (though he’s said he wouldn’t accept a raise in his first term). City Council members would get $175,500, up from their current $148,500 salary. City Council Speaker Julie Menin would make $194,400 instead of the current $164,500 (though she too has said she wouldn’t accept one).
The report, quietly released by the three-person Quadrennial Advisory Commission on election day last week, comes roughly a decade after the independent panel was last convened to consider whether to give city elected officials a raise. The commission included former Economic Development Corporation President Carl Weisbrod, former Deputy Mayor Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, and economist Larian Angelo. Local leaders haven’t gotten one since 2016…