Boston City Council votes to keep recent pay raises

Boston City Council voted against rescinding salary increases approved in 2022. Mayor Michelle Wu’s annual salary rose from $207,000 to $250,000 beginning in January. Council member salaries increased from $103,500 to $115,000 in 2024, then to $120,000 in 2025 and $125,000 in 2026. Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn filed a resolution seeking immediate rescission of the increases to the fullest extent permitted by law. The resolution cited proposed cuts in Wu’s next fiscal year budget, including veterans’ services, firefighter cancer screenings, and economic opportunity initiatives. Flynn said the savings would not solve the budget deficit or most cuts, but would signal that councilors prioritize residents. Sharon Durkan opposed the measure, calling it anti-family and arguing salaries should support people with families serving on the council.

"The Boston City Council voted against a measure Wednesday that would have rescinded salary increases that councilors and Mayor Michelle Wu received in recent years. The raises were approved by the council back in 2022. Wu's annual salary increased from $207,000 to $250,000 beginning in January of this year. The annual salary for council members increased from $103,500 to $115,000 in 2024, then jumped to $120,000 in 2025 and $125,000 in 2026."

"Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn filed a resolution this week calling for "the immediate rescission, to the fullest extent permitted by law" of the salary increases. It came as some on the body, including both Murphy and Flynn, continued to voice their displeasure at Wu's budget proposal for the next fiscal year. That proposal includes a number of cuts, and represents the lowest year-over-year increase in spending since the aftermath of the global financial crisis in fiscal year 2010."

"In their resolution, Flynn and Murphy highlighted proposed cuts to veterans' services, firefighter cancer screenings, economic opportunity initiatives, and more. The resolution called for any funds saved through the salary rescissions to be redirected towards services for residents. Flynn acknowledged that the savings could not close the city's current budget deficit or address most of the proposed cuts, but said that it would send a message to residents that councilors are willing to place their constituents before themselves."

""Residents want to know that we understand that they're going through difficult times, and they don't want a City Council just ignoring them and thinking that they don't matter," he said. Councilor Sharon Durkan called the measure "anti-family," saying that she wants to maintain salaries that allow people with families to serve on the council. Maintaining the current sa"

Read at Boston.com