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NYC Council Bill Would Raise City Officials' Pay 16%, Pushing Mayor‑Elect's Salary Near $300K

NYC council members have proposed a roughly 16% pay increase that would raise council salaries from $148,500 to $172,500 and boost the incoming mayor’s pay from $258,000 to about $300,000. The bill, filed by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, would also affect the public advocate, comptroller and borough presidents and is slated for a year‑end hearing so the next council can vote in January. Supporters call the update overdue after the last raise in 2016; critics note the contrast with Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s affordability platform and the potential optics of lawmakers increasing their own pay.

10:16 AM, 11/26/2025Politics
NYC Council Bill Would Raise City Officials' Pay 16%, Pushing Mayor‑Elect's Salary Near $300K

New legislation proposed by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams (D‑Queens) would raise pay for New York City elected officials by about 16%. The measure would increase council members’ salaries from $148,500 to $172,500 and apply the same percentage increase to the mayor, public advocate, comptroller and borough presidents — lifting the mayor‑elect’s salary from $258,000 to roughly $300,000.

What the proposal would do

The bill is intended to be introduced this week with a hearing scheduled before year‑end so the incoming City Council can vote on it in January. Council members last received a salary increase in 2016. Supporters say the update brings compensation closer to current market levels after nearly a decade without adjustment.

Political context and reaction

The timing has drawn scrutiny because the mayor‑elect, Zohran Mamdani, campaigned on a platform focused on affordability for working‑class New Yorkers. His campaign proposals included free buses, rent freezes for rent‑stabilized apartments, universal childcare, city‑run grocery stores and a phased increase of the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030 — to be funded largely by higher taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations.

As a state assembly member in 2022, Mamdani voted in favor of a pay increase for state legislators. The proposed city pay hike places him in a delicate position: he could sign the law and face criticism that it benefits the political class, or veto it and face criticism for blocking pay adjustments for public officials.

Next steps

Councilwoman Williams said holding a hearing this year would make the measure "pre‑considered," and she indicated that passing the bill in January is "the goal." The proposed timeline is designed to give the incoming council a prompt opportunity to approve or reject the change.

The proposal is likely to fuel debate about compensation for elected officials at a time when many New Yorkers are focused on the rising cost of living. City and campaign officials were contacted for comment.

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