A commission on Monday recommended pay hikes for the city’s elected officials — but with a catch for City Council members, who would have to go full-time and give up their lucrative “lulus.”
Mayor de Blasio’s salary would jump from $225,000 to $258,750, while council members would get a boost from $112,500 to $138,315.
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was granted a higher raise to $154,375 based on her “unique and important responsibilities.”
But in return, legislators with outside jobs would have to give them up. Bonuses of $8,000 to $20,000 for chairing committees, known as “lulus,” would be eliminated.
The commission looked at several factors in recommending the raises — the first since 2006 — including the rise in the cost of living, the median income of city residents and increased duties of elected officials.
The higher salaries, which have to be approved by both the mayor and council, would take effect Jan. 1.
De Blasio said he would study the recommendations for other elected officials, but wouldn’t cash in immediately himself.
“Regardless of the report’s recommendation, I will not accept a raise this term,” he said.
Mark-Viverito — who submitted a letter with 4,000 pages of attachments to the commission in support of pay hikes — said only that she would study the recommendations.
Good-government groups had mixed reactions.
Common Cause has come out in support of the hikes.
But Dick Dadey, head of the Citizens Union, said the raises should be deferred until 2018, after the next city elections.
“We, as a matter of good government, oppose any raises being enacted by current office holders while they’re serving. It’s a self-serving conflict of interest,” Dadey said, noting that state and federal elected officials can’t vote themselves a raise during their current terms.
The commission invited all elected officials to testify at its hearings — but only Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer showed up.
“They’re afraid to come and talk, Mr. Chairman,” she told commission Chair Frederick Schwarz Jr.
Aside from the speaker, only Brooklyn Councilman Alan Maisel responded to requests for comment on the commission’s suggestions.
“That makes a lot of sense,” he said. “The overwhelming number of members chair some sort of committee. It certainly seems reasonable to make it a full-time job.”