The Jersey City Council is considering bumping their salaries from $60,000 to $85,000, according to the first reading of an ordinance that will be on Thursday’s agenda.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The amendment didn’t lead to any discussion among electeds at today’s caucus meeting, but the local legislation, which would also boost the council president’s salary to $90,000, comes about two-and-a-half years after their last increase.
In October 2019, their salaries went from $36,128 to $50,000 immediately and then incrementally increased to $60,000 by 2021.
That ordinance also increased Mayor Steven Fulop’s annual base salary of $109,00 to $176,127 as of January 1st of this year, in line with the yearly compensation of Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise.
The 29 percent pay raise proposal comes after the council adopted an ordinance to add more aides last month.
This measure says that up to four full-time council aides could earn a $40,000 to $75,000 salary, with up to eight part-time aides earning between $15,000 to $35,000 a year.
Ward E Councilman James Solomon, who co-sponsored the measure to add more aides along with Council President Joyce Watterman, said that while serving on the council is a full-time job, raises like the one proposed should be phased in over time.
“I believe council should be full-time and compensated fairly. I believe the raises should be sequenced over time as opposed to all at once, and will continue discussions with my colleagues on the ordinance,” he told HCV.
Several other council members did not return inquiries seeking comment on Tuesday evening.
In the past year, Hudson County elected and administrators approved 2.5 percent raises, while North Bergen, West New York, and Hoboken okayed new salary ranges.
