Pittsburgh City Council members propose 7.1% pay raise for themselves

Pittsburgh City Council members are proposing to increase their pay by 7.1% in the city’s budget for next year — more than double the raise that Mayor Ed Gainey had proposed for council members.

Gainey had included a 3% increase for council members in his proposed budget. Council members introduced an amendment Tuesday to bump that to 7.1%, and it was unanimously supported.

On average, city employees from 2022 to 2023 received 7.1% pay raises, according to City Council Budget Director Peter McDevitt.

City Council members currently make $81,137 annually. The proposed pay increase would jump their yearly salaries to $86,970.

“Members are deserving comparable and competitive salaries,” said Councilman Bruce Kraus, D-South Side, who is retiring this year and will not benefit from the pay increase.

Dan Friedson, council’s solicitor, said the city’s home rule charter allows council members to get a pay raise that is on par with the average raise for city employees. Council cannot diminish its salary, he said.

Council in recent years has approved pay raises for its members, but there had been a decadelong pause in pay increases that put council members behind on cost-of-living adjustments, Friedson said.

Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, said keeping pay competitive was important for ensuring anyone could run for council. If people don’t feel they would make enough to live off a council member’s salary, she said, they wouldn’t run for office and only people who are already wealthy would be financially able to pursue such positions.

All council members supported the proposed pay hike Tuesday. It will appear on Wednesday’s standing committees agenda for a preliminary vote along with a package of budget-related legislation.

Council is expected to take a final vote on the budget next week.

Last year, council members got a 6% pay increase. In 2022, they voted for a 6.3% pay raise after scaling back from an initial proposal for a 15% jump.

Maria Montaño, a spokesperson for Gainey, said council is poised to give themselves “the largest pay raise possible under city law.” She said the administration was reviewing the changes and declined to say whether the mayor was supportive of the adjustment.