New York City Council Approves 18% Pay Raise for Officials

The New York City Council voted 42‑6 to increase salaries for its members by 18.2%, raising annual pay from $148,500 to $175,500. The mayor’s salary also rises to $305,800 and the council speaker’s to $194,400, with the changes applied retroactively to Jan. 1, 2026. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will decline the additional pay, and council speaker Julie Menin abstained from the vote and will not accept the raise. The raise follows an independent commission’s recommendation that cited roughly 31% inflation since the last adjustment in 2016. Critics note the increase comes amid a citywide affordability crisis, estimating an extra $2.6 million in annual taxpayer costs.

Councilman Phil Wong warned that “many constituents are living paycheck to paycheck,” arguing the raise sends the wrong message while New Yorkers struggle with high living costs.