NYC Council plods ahead with pay raise plan

(The Center Square) — New York City Council members, already among the highest paid in the nation, could be in line for even fatter paychecks under a proposal that cleared a key committee vote on Tuesday.

The bill, which was approved by the Democratic-led Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation by a 5-1 vote, calls for convening a special commission this year to consider pay raises for the mayor, council members, the city comptroller, public advocate and other top positions.

A proposal filed by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, a Queens Democrat, would boost council members’ annual pay by 16% from $148,500 to $172,500 and raise Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pay to nearly $350,000 from the current $258,000 with benefits. Collectively, the bill would increase the 50-member council’s salary budget from $7.5 million to $8.8 million.

But Williams’ bill was amended by the committee to set up a special commission to meet every four years and consider increased compensation for the city’s top governing board. The...