The New York City Council voted 42-6 on Thursday to significantly increase the salaries of city elected officials, approving an 18% raise for council members and boosting the mayor’s annual pay. The increases are retroactive to January, when the current terms began.

Several lawmakers opposed the measure, including Republicans and a handful of conservative Democrats. Councilman Phil Wong of Queens argued that approving raises for elected officials is difficult to justify while many New Yorkers continue to face financial hardship.

The vote comes shortly after the Council adopted a record-breaking $126 billion city budget and follows an unsuccessful effort last year to pass a smaller 16% pay increase. The proposal was revived by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams with recommendations from the city’s three-member Quadrennial Commission.

In June, the commission recommended a 18.2% salary increase, pointing to inflation and the erosion of officials’ purchasing power over time. It also proposed automatic annual raises of at least 2%, but the Council removed that provision from the final legislation. Instead, the commission will now review compensation every three years.

Under the approved plan, salaries will increase as follows:

• Mayor: $258,750 → $305,800
• City Council members: $148,500 → $175,500
• Council Speaker: $164,500 → $194,400

Council Speaker Julie Menin abstained from the vote, saying she would decline the raise herself. She also criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, arguing that it has not done enough to secure higher pay for EMS personnel and FDNY members.

Mamdani, who campaigned on making New York more affordable, said he also plans to forgo the salary increase, stating that he would prefer the funds be directed toward residents in need.

“I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door in New York City and had them tell me the mayor’s salary is too low,” Mamdani said.